Southgate CC - 1st XI Vs Teddington CC - 1st XI - Saturday 17th June 2017

With temperatures in excess of 30 degrees, Teddington elected to field first as is becoming customary in the longer format this season. Some loose deliveries from the opening bowlers allowed the aggressive Southgate openers to hit a number of early boundaries, until Pollock checked their progress with an in-swinger through the gate. The Teddington seamer didn’t look back, snaring two more wickets to restrict Southgate to 64 for 3, thanks in large part to a sharp low catch from Hopkins at second slip. The home side dug in until a James Fear run out brought the breakthrough, with Southgate on 108 for 4. With the innings in the balance, Teddington turned the screw after lunch, and continued to take wickets at regular intervals. James Keightley trapped two of the middle order batsmen lbw before Pollock proceeded to mop up the tail, to add to his wickets earlier in the day. This left Southgate all out for 150, a total which looked some way below par after their promising start. In the process, Pollock had recorded his best figures for the club, with an impressive 7 for 48 off his 18.2 overs. 

Teddington initially stuttered in reply, with the left arm spin of Sivarajah trapping Winter on the crease in the second over. Tom Twiney also followed lbw not long after, leaving Teddington in some strife at 13 for 2. James Fear looked to anchor the innings and batted sensibly with Tim Armstrong, before the Australian was joined at the crease by Ben Williams, with the score at 73 for 3. The experienced pair marshalled spin from both ends, with Armstrong repeatedly finding the boundary down the ground and Williams looking to sweep. By the time that Williams was dismissed for 34, Teddington were within sight of a comfortable win. Two more late wickets flattered the home team, who never really looked in control of the game once the Teddington middle order established itself. 

This was another comprehensive win for TCC, continuing their winning run in the league and keeping them at the summit of the table. Sterner tests will surely follow next weekend though, when Teddington welcome Shepherd’s Bush and Ealing in the league and cup respectively.

Author: Matt Winter

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