Twickenham's Parker and Vosloo clinch dramatic promotion (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Twickenham's Parker and Vosloo clinch dramatic promotion

1:30pm Wednesday 9th September 2009

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Twickenham captain Carlos Nunes believes landing Middlesex County League Division Two promotion in dramatic circumstances proves his side is more than just a one or two individuals.

Nunes’ men needed just a draw with Southgate - who posted 264 for seven - at the weekend to be elevated to the Premier Division, and were staring defeat in the face at 37 for 7 with 32 overs remaining.

All-rounder JP Cronje (72) led the recovery, but it was the heroics of last-wicket pair 16-year-old Jack Parker (12*) and Mike Vosloo (10*), who secured promotion as they batted out nearly 13 overs to force the stalemate.

It was the second time in eight days the duo had saved Ts bacon with Parker’s unbeaten 32 leading his team to a crucial victory at Harrow last week.

Last’s season’s Division Two winners Richmond were relegated from the top flight this year without winning a game, but captain Nunes believes the fighting spirit his men have shown will stand them in good stead.

“The last two weeks have been way beyond ridiculous in terms of drama, but we have finally shown we are more than just a two or three man team,” he said.

“Richmond have struggled in the individual player stats, while champions Ealing have seen all their players contribute without one of them really standing out.

“I think we can do something similar. We have a number of players who can score big runs and take wickets. On decent wickets next year it will be a completely different ball game “It will be a real challenge. It will take us five games to assess where we are and in an ideal world a mid-table finish will be what we are looking for.”

Nunes, the division’s third highest run scorer with 652, is confident of retaining the services of overseas star and former Twickenham colt Jimmy Munting, who scored more than 400 with the bat and took 51 wickets.

But it is replacing departing club legend Justin Scriven, who himself took an impressive 29 wickets and scored 216 runs this year, that will give the skipper the biggest headache as he looks to build a side capable of competing at the next level.

“Justin has been a big, big player for the club. Replacing him is going to be tough, not just as an all-rounder but as someone who opens the bowling,” he added.

“There are going to be a few players come in, but top of the list is a quality spinner to compete with the likes of Ealing’s Chris Peploe and Hampstead’s Paul Weekes.”

Premier Division Teddington closed their campaign with a seven wicket triumph over Shepherds Bush, as they successfully chased after Duncan Wood’s 7-36 dismissed the visitors for 141.

A 151-run partnership between Nick Alexander (66) and Ami Banerjee (89) ensured Richmond bowed out of the top flight with a winning draw at Hampstead, who had earlier been dismissed for a mammoth 338.

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