Lodway started the 2026 season in fine style on Saturday, as Ham Green hosted the traditional pre-season curtain-raiser against Twyford House, with Lodway emerging with a last over, one wicket win after almost 540 runs were scored.

Having chosen to bat first, Twyford House’s openers Mark Fowler and Chris Wyse made a steady start against Lodway’s teenaged openers Ryan Rice (0-13) and Shannon Barker (0-14), with Barker unlucky not to snare Fowler with a leg side deflection that Stephen Edmonds was unable to gather. It took the change bowlers to make the first breakthrough, with Mini Metcalfe (1-19) bowling Wyse for 6 out of the opening partnership of 42, before Curtis Blakemore combined with Fowler for a second wicket partnership of 84 that was helped by some erratic and wayward, early season bowling. Blakemore was the next to fall, as Rimon Ahmed (1-28) finally got his line right, and Charlie Robson (1-59) followed suit to leave Twyford House 150-3 in the first over after drinks. First teamers Joe Crutchley (0-17) and Alfie Rendell (1-10) stemmed the run rate, although Fowler soon reached his fine century from 109 balls, and retired to allow his colleagues some time in the middle. Familiar face Ahsaan Butt did his best to set an insurmountable target, striking two sixes in his 30-ball 40, including one that would have smashed his own windscreen were in not for a fine crowd catch by Tom Marsh. Butt eventually became Ewan Mason’s third wicket, as Mason finished on 3-29 and Twyford closed on 269/7.

After a sun-baked tea, the familiar opening partnership of Robson and Rice strode to the middle, although it was Ryan rather than Toby opening the bowling and batting in this instance, and he and Adam Robson put on 78 in 11 overs for the opening wicket. However, similar to brother Toby, Ryan fell the ball after striking a six, caught behind by Chris Sherring off the bowling of Nathan Browne (1-66) for 31, and Sherring was to have a hand in 4 of the first 5 wickets to fall as Lodway stumbled to 184/5 in the 28th, even as Robson retired for a 77-ball hundred; scoring 100 of the first 164 runs and breaking at least one roof tile on his way to his impressive unbeaten ton. Blakemore was the pick of the bowlers in the middle order, taking 3-46. With 86 required from 74, Edmonds and Rimon combined their contrasting, inimitable styles in a 6-over partnership of 46, before Edmonds played one wild swipe too many to George Fowler (1-45) to fall for 28, but with the target now less than a run-a-ball for the last 40. With four overs remaining and only 17 required, the game seemed set in Lodway’s favour, but the introduction of centurion Mark Fowler into the attack sowed the seeds of chaos in the Lodway ranks as three wickets fell in his first over, including the dismissal of Rimon for 39(35) to leave Lodway 254-9. However, this 9th wicket brought Adam Robson (105*) back to the crease, and he and Metcalfe were able to nudge and nurdle Lodway to the cusp of victory before Mini Metcalfe (9*) clipped Fowler (2-6) to the midwicket boundary to seal a pleasing win to start the season ahead of the beginning of the league campaign at the weekend.