With
Skipper Rob Young away sunning himself in warmer climes Steve
Smith lead the team into the unknown, away to Deando Ruxley, a
new fixture for Kings.
Having
won the toss Deando asked Kings to bat first. Fears about the
look of a 
patchy
and dusty pitch were soon put to rest, although both giving early
chances (lets be honest they both should have been back in the
hutch) the in form opening pair of Miller and Perry soon got into
their stride. The first ten overs flew by with the pair scoring
freely against the opening bowlers Warner and Pendleton, at almost
five an 
over.
The next ten overs they were even more brutal on some wayward
bowling even the introduction of change bowlers Kibble and Moore
made little difference. By the drinks interval at twenty five
overs Miller had reached his second 50 in as many weeks and the
pair had moved the score along to 128.
The
drinks interval brought, as it so often does, a break in concentration
for the
batsmen, though not before Perry had completed his third 50 of
the season with a single in the first over after the interval.
Then in the space of eleven balls, first Miller (69) and then
Perry (50) lobbed up easy catches to bring to an end their opening
partnership of 130 (130-2).
Joel
Miah did not last too long at the crease as in trying to get off
the mark, 
gifted
the fielding side yet another simple catch and Kibble his second
wicket.
This brought Pipe to the crease to join Evans, and he signaled
his intention with a four from his first ball. The pair 
then
set about the bowling with a mixture of some fine shots and it's
got to be said some that Old McDonald would have been proud of
down on his farm. Both scoring freely and with Evans (53*) reaching
his fifty in fifty two balls and Pipe finally holing out in the
deep for 41, Smith declared the innings fifteen minutes early
on 228-4.
With some tight opening bowling from Joel Miah and Sones it was
clear the home team were going to struggle to get near the target
set for them. So this proved when in the fifth over Miah struck,
clean bowling Moore for one (3-1).
Sones took his first wicket in the next over having Barrett comfortably
caught by Perry (4-2). In his next over Sones, bowled Beeks for
2 (6-3). Then accounted for Ruddle caught MacKenzie (14-4) and
Reeves caught Mears (21-5).
Miah and Sones were replaced by Pipe and Bygrave and in his second
over Pipe had Warner caught by Evans (21-6). Bygrave was now into
the action with his first delivery bowling Foy (21-7). In his
next over despite being hit for eight off his first three balls
by Kibble had him caught by Perry off his fourth (31-8). The bowlers
were then replaced by Wright and Evans to have their first bowl
for a few seasons. Rustiness soon out of their system we didn't
have to wait too long for the next wicket Wright claiming his
second ever wicket for Kings with Perry taking his third catch
of the match (49-9). This signaled time for a bowling debut for
MacKenzie, who extracted bounce and turn from the off resulting
in him taking the final wicket having Pendleton caught at deep
mid wicket by Evans (57-10)
Although
clearly stronger in all departments on the day, some pleasing
performances, with Miller, Perry and Evans reaching their fifties
and Pipe 41.
Sones (4-11) back to his best with the ball, supported well in
the field with all chances held, and a chance to look at those
who don't normally bowl.
A 171 run victory is always pleasing and 3 on the spin, long may
it continue.
