TMCC Sunday XI on 12 September put an end to the misery of 2 consecutive losses. On this very day in 2005, England regained the urn after 16 years of misery!
Ben leading Old Finchleians CC XI elected to bat first. Chris Squires and Chanul opened the bowling. Chanul's sharp fielding gave the home team an early breakthrough in the first over itself which put the opposition on the backfoot. Chris Squires with his artistic out-swingers (2-10 ) got 2 early wickets, while the young Chanul(0-9) kept things tight from the other end. The momentum was maintained by Luca Patel(2-24) and Viyath(1-10) who were the first change.
After drinks OFCC XI were under pressure at 53/6. Eklavya Sharma and Joshua Chaim came on to bowl. Captain Ben (OFCC) looked a bit threatening when he was batting with the well-set opening batsman Parth who showed grit and patience. Joshua Chaim got 2 quick wickets in his first over followed by another in his third(3-13). This put the pressure back on the opposition. However, Ben, played some attacking shots before being bowled by Sharma at 42(29) hitting 5 boundaries and 3 sixes. OFCC collapsed in about 23 overs setting a trivial target of 89 runs for the home team.
Home team skipper Clive, as goodwill gesture suggested to play an impromptu T-10 if TMCC got to 89 in under 20 overs. Ayrton and David Wagner opened the innings by putting the foot on the pedal. Ayrton started his innings with a boundary and made a quick fire 29(29). He batted fluently hitting 3 more fours before he was adjudged Lbw by the umpire. Raffi Grant came in at 3. After working hard in the net sessions and opening the innings in one of the previous games he looked very confident as he approached the wicket. He showed great caution initially while batting with David Wagner. They added additional 20 runs with 2 huge boundaries (one of which looked like a six from the changing rooms!). David Wagner who was batting very methodically contributed 21(37) with 3 lovely 4s before he was out caught and bowled.
By this time Raffi Grant (not out 19) was well set and ready to take on the bowlers. He went after the bowling and hit two more huge 4s toying with the in-field!
Clive Hart(not out 4) (in a true 'Clive Hart Style') hit the winning boundary and took TMCC home.

This was followed by a quick T-10 game which TMCC won hands down! Clive and Raffi morphed themselves into the role of opening bats and were on the roll. Raffi went on to add another fabulous 20(15) belting and pulling the OFCC bowlers, adding a set of 4 more huge boundaries to his repertoire! Clive on the other hand chose to work for his runs in 1s and 2s before being run out on 11(14). By consensus Raffi's score was added for both innings [19(26) + 20(15)] = 39(41). Skipper Clive and Raffi Grant were unfortunately run out; given their form on the day they could have easily batted additional 10 overs in T-10!
The classy batsman and chairman M.Adnan(32(20)), well supported by Eklavya Sharma(13(11)) handled the affairs for the last 3-4 overs taking the home team to a defendable 89 runs.
The TMCC bowlers, in the end wrapped up the opposition at 77 runs! yet again!
Indeed a 'Red Letter Day' for TMCC Sunday XI registering 2 wins in a day, and all the players having 2 games for the price of 1!
A special shout out to Raffi Grant for effectively scoring 39(41) and Skipper Clive Hart for 'engineering the T-10'

Next Match: v Jesters at Shenley......