Hastings CS 29Jun02

Once again Kings visited the south coast for the their short weekend tour and to take on Hastings CS.

Having won the toss Kings elected to bat first on a hard dry pitch with a fast outfield. Kings two openers, Dave Miller and Dave Perry, made an assured start especially against the tight bowling of Hastings' Longley, with just six runs coming in the first three overs. However once they were away there was no stopping the two. Miller was the first to launch into some cracking drives but he was soon followed by Perry who got under way with a beautiful on driven four and followed this with an excellent straight six. By the time the 10th over was completed they had posted 50 on the board. However they still had to be wary of both Longley, who was getting the ball to swing and Burgess, who after a shaky start was now finding his rhythm.

Both batsmen did particularly well to keep out some fine Yorkers from Longley. Then in the 17th over Hastings Captain, Hinkley, brought himself on in place of Burgess, but this did not bring the breakthrough he sought as Perry dispatched him for three successive boundaries. By the 20th over Kings had 95 on the board, and not long after Perry reached his fifty with yet another crashing four. The opening partnership had added 150 by the 32nd over and nothing seemed likely to stop them as they combined punishing boundaries with fast taken singles. Then in the 34th over with 161 on the board Perry went for another lofted on-drive and fell to a well taken catch on the long-on boundary for a quite
superb 86. It was an excellent knock from the Kings Vice-Captain, and a welcome return to form, his innings included 14 fours and 1 six and came in just 118 balls - it was his 25th half century score for Kings and followed the unbeaten 76 he scored on the same pitch two seasons ago.

Kings had set themselves 200 as a target and Miller and Pipe tried to push the score along and in the next over Miller made room for himself to square cut Longley and was bowled for a super 65, containing 10 fours and coming off just 91 balls. It was his 17th half century for Kings. The fall of Miller sparked a mini collapse as Kings went all out for runs. 165-2 became 171-3 as the inform Pipe was bowled in trying to clear the boundary rope, then 174-4 as Tighe holed out at cover. Then it was 174-5 as Wright was superbly caught behind off his first ball. There was just enough time Smith to add some quick runs before Murphy, who had failed to score off 16 balls, was caught off the last ball on the innings.

Hastings made the worst possible start in chasing their target of 187 to win as Kings opening bowler, Tighe had Cook caught at short cover by Young and then he bowled Buss. However Crathern and Harvey repaired some of damage by moving the score along sharply, mainly off edges from Tighe to the short third man boundary. At the opposite end to Tighe, Pipe was doing an excellent job bowling up hill and into a stiff breeze and he had no luck as Murphy put down a chance a slip. Tighe was also not enjoying any luck as the ball continued to flash past the outstretched hands of the slip fielders. Sones took over from Tighe and seemed to be destined to suffer the same misfortune until a poor ball saw Crathern pull the ball straight to Bygrave at mid-wicket. In the same over he then produced a good delivery to bowl Harvey. Then Butler drove a ball from Pipe straight into the safe hands of Mears. After a marathon stint of 13 overs, in which just 13 runs were conceded, Pipe was replaced by Mears, whilst Bygrave took over from Sones.

Bygrave accounted for Hinkley who was caught at cover by Tighe. Mears then produced a good spell of bowling, coming round the wicket to bowl Watters, then to produced a quick ball which only saw Burgess edge to Smith. Kings were in within sight of victory now, but when Longley was put down by Tighe , their chance effectively went. There was still time for one half chance off Murphy to fall just short of Miller and off the one but last ball Kings seemed to have a justified run out appeal turned down and the game finished as a draw.

Bob.