Kings successfully extended their unbeaten home record to an impressive 30
matches with a comprehensive victory over Chertsey II's . The match was played on the hottest day of the year to date, and this may have led to the
game being played in a 'heated' atmosphere.

Kings batted first on a hard dusty pitch, with openers Miah and Perry leading the way against the lively attack of Chertsey's Richard Hawthorn and Avery. Chertsey's bowlers were backed up by some fine fielding, which restricted Kings mainly to singles in the early overs. The first sign of 'bad feeling' came when Avery and wicketkeeper Keenan were confident that Perry had gloved behind, when the ball had clearly clipped Perry's chest. The dissent toward the umpires became worse when once again appeals for a catch behind against Perry, off Hawthorn, were turned down. This time the ball had clearly clipped the pad, which the Chertsey skipper, to his credit, was quick to point out to his players.

Despite this, Kings moved the score on nicely to 38 before an mix up between Perry and Miah saw the latter run out by some distance for 12. The inform Pipe came in to join Perry and soon struck two powerful fours, while Perry drove straight down the ground particularly well. However with score on 54, and having made 26 Perry was legitimately caught behind off Hawthorn, which sparked some
unnecessary comments from the Chertsey players, especially Avery. Once again skipper Boast had to calm his players down and Avery duly apologised to Perry.

Kings were soon reduced to 58-3 when Avery got one to nip back and bowled Pipe as he attempted to drive. The southern hemisphere pair of Paradise and Evans then dug in and settle things before pushing forward again. Evans in particular was playing well, finding the boundary regularly. These two saw off the opening bowlers in adding 24, but in Frith's first over Paradise mistimed a drive and was caught at mid-off for 13. (82-4). Quick running between Evans and Tighe helped add a further 18 before Evans went to pull a ball and was lbw when the ball kept low. One run later Tighe went to sweep and only managed to get a looping top edge to the keeper.(101-6).

Kings had two new batsmen at the crease now and Chertsey sensed an opportunity to finish off the innings. However Mears and Young had other thoughts and set about keeping the scoreboard ticking over with some good running and some well hit boundaries. Mears hit two well timed sweep shots, whilst Young hit a lofted six over cover. These two added an excellent 35 before Mears in attempting to pull a short ball was bowled by a similar ball that had accounted for Evans.(136-7) Chertsey did not have long to wait for their next wicket as the next ball kicked off the pitch to just brush Wright's bat to become keeper Keenan's third victim.(136-8)

With time and wickets running out Kings skipper Young tried to push the score on with some lusty blows. Sones kept him company for a short time before being bowled for 3. With three overs left last man Adams joined Young at the crease. Young took 12 from Frith's next over, including two well struck boundaries. In the next over, Adams, despite his best efforts played out a maiden, with Kings just picking up four byes. For the last over Chertsey brought back their opening bowler Hawthorn and Young stepped down the track and lifted him high to the mid-wicket boundary. Hawthorn however had his revenge when he bowled the Kings skipper next ball to bring the innings to a close at 161.

Chertsey's response was based round a solid innings by their skipper Boast, who farmed the strike well to protect his other batsmen. Wiggins was the first man to go when he was trapped plumb in front by Sones for 4. It was two wickets down when Wright, at second slip, took an outstanding one handed catch above and slightly behind him off Tighe to dismiss Keenan. Sones was bowling without much luck, with a couple of chances missed before Gawley was next to go when he chipped to mid-wicket to finally give Sones his second wicket.

Meanwhile Boast continued to stay solid at one end but started to look uncomfortable against Sones. Pipe replaced Tighe and he finally accounted for the Chertsey captain when he took an easy return catch. It could have been two in the over if Pipe had managed to take a second return chance. Mears replaced Sones and he should have claimed an early wicket when Powlesland flashed and edged to Perry behind the stumps, however the umpire quite unbelievably gave it not out. However in his next over Mears switched to round the wicket and clean bowled Powlesland. Pipe then bowled S. Hawthorne as he tried to whip away over mid-wicket. Pipe seemed to have a perfectly good lbw shout turned down before Mears and Perry then combined to claim the wicket of Avery. Wright then produced another fine slip catch to dismiss Frith to give Pipe his third wicket. The innings was in its death throws now and Pipe wrapped things up when he claimed his fourth wicket when trapping R.Hawthorne lbw. Chertsey were dismissed for just 74.

Bob