Both the Twickenham CC 1s and 2s got their seasons off to decent starts on 19 April. The ones travelled to Acton and won by 40 runs (see here for the card), the twos' hosted Acton IIs on the Green and also came out on top (by 64 runs, see here for the card).

The returning Preet Patel tonnes up for the ones
Skipper Carlos Nunes was off in sunnier climes, so the evergreen Don Manuwelge took over the captaincy reins.

With Acton winning the toss and asking the Ts to have a hit, it wasn't long before Manuwelge was out in the middle. He scored a solid 52 (68 balls) before vacating the crease to let someone else have a go.

Preet Patel, back in Twickenham colours after a year on sabbatical at Harrow Town, took no time at all in settling back into things. He hit five sixes on his way to a 74 ball 106. A decent calling card for the season.

Acton gave chasing 245 down a decent go, although they were never quite in the right place to really think they were going to get there. Blake van der Linde saw to that, dismissing the top three players before ending with 4-36.

Ravikumar Raghavendra nonetheless batted nicely for 65 (73 balls), but the emerging talent that is Robbie Bosier removed him and Acton's chances of winning the game went with him. Before that former Twickenham player Radka Marripati (45 off 51) chipped in nicely; the second returnee, Akash Multani, nonetheless removed him and with that the Ts were home and hosed.

A decent effort by both sides.

Twos enjoy themselves against Acton's second string
The twos enjoyed a terrific day on the Green.

Hinay Dassani led a classically eclectic band of brothers into action and he'll have been pleased with their efforts. Kev Cavilla, as is his way, put some pre-season runs on the board. Is there ever a pre-season with that man *doesn't* hit the ground running? He hit seven fours and a six on his way to 52.

Varad Rampal (32), Jarryd Knott (25) and Oli George (22) also got in for a period of time, whilst the five other members of the top eight also got into double figures. A solid enough set of numbers as the Ts posted 208 off their allotted 40.

Acton started their reply pretty well, but once the top order had been and gone Twickenham eased themselves home. Praween Siriwardena (3-33) and Hinay Dassani (2-22) did most of the damage, although Frankie Lingeman (2-34) and the new (all-rounder?) force that is Jarryd Knot (two wickets off seven balls for the just the one run) helped bowl Acton out for 145.

With that victory nonetheless comes a plethora of questions. Will Kev Cavilla (once again) score more runs in pre-season than he does in the entirety of the league season? Has Dassani unearthed a bowling talent in Jarryd Knot? Will Robbie Bosier be in the ones by 10 May, the Middlesex side by the end of the month and indeed the England side by the time of the first Test against India? Only time will tell......