RichmondNomads 29Aug04

The cliché "catches win matches" proved to be very much the case on a very unseasonable afternoon as Kings took on Richmond Nomads at Spelthorne. This game saw the clash of two sides who have enjoyed some exciting games over the years and Kings pitched against talented opponents, who were bound to give Kings a stern test.

Having lost the toss Kings were asked to bat first under cloudy skies and on a pitch which looked to offer something for the bowlers, frequent showers also helped to slow down the outfield. Kings made a cautious start before Dave Perry laid into a sweetly timed drive to the boundary, but the openers luck ran out when he played on via his foot, the ball just nestling up against the stumps with enough momentum to knock off a bail.(9-1). However Miller soon had the scoreboard moving with a sweet six over square leg off Barnett, but Edwards fell in the next over, having just played a superb off drive, as Bush shaped one back in to beat Edwards defences (22-2).

In the next Barnett over Miller repeated his six and then followed it with a crisp cut for four. Miah looked in good touch with two well struck boundaries off Bush, while Miller continued his rich vein of form with boundaries off Barnett and Bush. When Miah laid into a wide half volley there seemed no other outcome but four more, but Morrison at extra cover some how hung on to a stinging catch (56-3). Kings were scoring at a good rate (50 off ten overs), but the rapid loss of wickets was a concern so there then followed a period of consolidation between Miller and the promoted Smith. No more wickets were lost in the next ten overs but only 27 runs were added, this coincided with the introduction of Hine, who had replaced Barnett, and his slower pace made if difficult to score. Meanwhile Bush continued with a spell of quick accurate bowling.

It was Hine who struck next, Miller, having made 41, cut on the up to point where Cundy took a good catch (79-4). Bush's good spell finished after 14 overs to be replaced by the medium swing of Lamb, and this brought Nomads their fifth wicket when Smith pushed to point (92-5) and five runs later Tighe got a ball that kept very low and bowled him via his foot (97-6). It was now down to the lower order to add some much needed runs, Joel Miah and Dave Wright then enjoyed a decent stand, with Miah playing the anchor role as Wright adopted his usual style of attack. Some fine struck boundaries he helped move the score past the 100 mark and these two seemed well set until Miah spooned a catch off the outside edge to Hine at gully (116-7). The injured Norman battled valiantly but sacrificed his wicket (125-8) in the dying overs before Wright and Young saw the score to an under par 130.

It was clear that Kings, with only three front line bowlers, would have to bowl well to win this game and that is exactly what they did. Two committed spells from their openers and superb support in the field saw Kings to an outstanding victory. The opening over saw Hood take two runs off Tighe, whilst Morrison took a single off the third ball of Sones' first over. From then on Kings were in the driving seat. Off the fifth ball of the over Sones produced a peach of a ball to bowl Hood, (his 200th career wicket) then next ball Cundy was tempted into a drive and Dave Miah took a comfortable catch at point (3-2). Tighe's next over was a maiden, whilst Sones' hat trick ball drifted tamely down the legside, before the last ball went to the boundary.

Six runs came off the next two overs to leave Nomads on 13-2. Then off the second ball of Tighe's 4th over Morrison slashed hard to point where Dave Miah took an excellent catch (13-3). Three balls later, having teased Bush with two wide deliveries, Tighe produced a quick ball that nipped back to bowl Bush (13-4). In the next over, Snape, who had played a couple of drives on the up, drove at Sones and was caught by the perfectly positioned Perry (13-5). The collapse did not end there though, as Tighe struck once again in his next over bowling Bridgeman. By the end of the ninth over Nomads had crashed to 13-6, with Tighe having taken 3 for 4 off five overs and Sones 3 for 9 off four. Needless to say Nomads had to fight hard now to avoid a humiliating defeat and Lamb and Scarborough dug in well as Kings went in search of further wickets.

However a good partnership between these two could have still have won the game for Nomads. Lamb was playing with some authority now, and powerfully drove into the covers twice, but was denied runs both times by outstanding stops by Edwards. The next ball saw Lamb nearly play on off Tighe, so when the next ball was wide he cut hard but once again the safe hands of Dave Miah were waiting as the Kings President took an another outstanding catch (35-7). Hine and Scarborough kept Kings at bay for a little longer as the tiring bowlers strived for one more breakthrough.

Sones was then replaced by young Joel Miah, and this brought an immediate result, Scarborough cut hard at a ball slanted across him and could only knick it behind where Smith took the catch (49-8) Two balls later Charteris drove at Miah, got a thick outside edge and there once again was Dave Miah, diving to take a superb one handed catch, his record breaking fourth catch of the innings (49-9). Nomads to their credit did not hold out for the draw and Barnett came in to play some shots, pulling Tighe for six. The end came off what was to be the last over of Tighe's lengthy spell. With the last ball he floated in a slower wide ball, Barnett tried to smash it out of the ground, got a thick edge and Sones took an easy catch at slip to win the game and give Tighe a deserved 5th wicket. Nomads had been bowled out for just 67.

Kings had battled superbly to get something from the game, and it was splendid to see the Nomads Skipper Morrison come into the home dressing room to congratulate Kings and to admit that Kings were just too good for them on the day. From the battling performance, to the determined lengthy bowling spell and the excellent fielding and catching this was an outstanding performance by the Kings' players. Tighe's 5-34 and Sones' 3-25 from the 27 overs they bowled between them brought the victory, but the outstanding support catching from Dave Miah was majestic. It was the first time a Kings fielder had taken four catches in a match, other milestones in the game saw Richard Sones pass 200 career wickets, whilst the victory was Rob Young's 100th as Skipper.

Kings first nine overs:

(T)....2./(S)..1.ww/(T)....../(S).....4/(T)...2../(S)....4./(T).w..w./(S)w...../(T)...w..