Teddington skipper James Keightley has chosen winning the Middlesex County League Premier Division crown for a second time as the perfect cue to step down as captain.
The Bushy Park club triumphed by five wickets in a rain-affected match at Stanmore on Saturday to rubber stamp their dominance of the competition this term with 12 wins from 18 matches.
The victory was immaterial in the end as nearest rivals North Middlesex crashed at struggling Shepherds Bush, who beat the drop at the expense of Twickenham.
Bowing out in style: Teddington's James Keightley has stepped down as first team captain, having won two Middlesex County League Premier Division titles
Keightley, who claimed 33 wickets and scored 262 runs this summer, first claimed the title in 2014, but rates the efforts of the class of 2016 as a greater achievement.
“Winning the league was the goal we set ourselves way back in January when we met as a squad for the first time,” he said.
“To have achieved that is a fantastic feeling and something which the squad and I are extremely proud of.
“I believe we are more of a team than we were when we were last successful in 2014 and this win in my opinion was far greater than that of 2014.
"Four players scored over 450 league runs and five have taken 18 wickets or more so we were never reliant on just one or two players.
What the..?: Clint McCabe looked incredulous as the covers came on at the Green to effectively call time on Twickenham’s stay in the Middlesex County League Premier Division. Saturday’s abandoned clash with Eastcote, and Shepherds Bush’s win over North Middlesex, condemned Twickenham to the drop
“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to have captained my club and am lucky enough to have two league titles in the bag.”
James Fear, who scored 458 league runs, will take over the reins next summer and he will undoubtedly be hoping overseas star Tim Armstrong – Teddington’s player of the year with 18 wickets and 707 runs – returns.
Either way, with Ben Williams (464) and Tom Twiney (617) also in consistent form with the bat, Keightley believes there is plenty to be optimistic about.
“James, Tom and Ben are beginning to reach their peak and realise their ability at this level and I expect them to score heavily for many seasons to come,” he added.
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