Kempton 17Jul05

Kings played hosts to their landlords on yet another hot and sunny afternoon. A tough match was expected as Kempton were bound to want to put one over their tennants. To add to the hype that had been building for the last few weeks there was the clash between so many close relationships. Kempton fielded four players who have played for Kings in the past (Inwood, Saverimuttu, Rashid and Adams), whilst Kings had amongst its regular team five players who do or have also played for Kempton (Smith, Gordon Young, Norman and both Miah's), not to mention father against son and brother against brother! - It all led to a heightened expectation for the game ahead. Kempton kindly provided two neutral umpires for the match, one of which was then switched at tea without Kings being notified, a switch that was to have a major impact as the game progressed! Out of courtesy Kings allowed Kempton to use the home dressing room for the match, which was officially a Kings home game.

Skipper Rob Young having won the toss, and despite the heat, took a brave decision based on his game plan and decided to field first. Simon Pipe opened the bowling for Kings and in the first over twice beat the outside edge of Ben Osbourne's bat. Richard Sones also made a reasonable start, and could have had the prize wicket of Trevor Warne when the batsman pulled a short ball to mid wicket but the ball just landed short of the fielder Evans, and then shot across the lightning fast outfield to the boundary. Osbourne then got the scoreboard moving with successive boundaries off Pipe, plus four byes making 12 off three deliveries. However this was the last time in the match that Kempton held the upper hand as the tide was about to swing decisively in Kings favour.

With Sones bowling to Warne the bowler pushed a ball down the leg side from where Keeper Smith gathered safely, however Warne had left his crease anticipating a leg bye, and Smith calmly removed the bails to complete a satisfying stumping (24-1). Alan Inwood then joined Osbourne. The latter hit two sweet drives and Inwood joined in with an agricultural pull all off Pipe to push the score on again. Inwood was fortunate to survive a lbw shout when caught back in his crease by Sones, but when Pipe bent his back and dug one in a bit shorter Osbourne could only fend the ball to Norman in the gulley (44-2). This brought Saverimuttu to the crease, who had once made a century playing for Kings, he got off the mark with trademark pull off Sones and seemed determined to play the same way against Pipe. However having already survived one close lbw appeal he was not so fortunate the next time when playing across the line and this time Pipe's appeal was upheld (52-3).

The same fate awaited Inwood, who was again caught back in the crease and the umpire had no hesitation in raising the finger when Pipe and Smith went up in unison (55-4). This was a dream start for Kings and it was to get better. When Vise played all around a straight ball from Pipe the 'landlords' had collapsed to 55-5. With Captain Nad Rashid joining Ellis Miah at the crease Kings expectations were that the hard work was about to begin. But with some excellent bowling and great pressure in the field they were to be rewarded again. Rashid went to pull Pipe but could only top edge to mid wicket, where Gordon Young made up ground quickly before taking a fine catch just above the turf (57-6). Kings were really in the ascendancy now and with over half the Kempton team out were not about to let them off the hook. Having taken 5-31 from his ten overs Pipe was rested in case he was needed later, and was replaced by Joel Miah, whilst Chris Barnes had taken over from Sones and it was Barnes who struck next. With Kings latest recruit getting some away movement he tempted Ellis Miah into a drive which he could only send to the waiting hands of Norman, who once again took a safe catch in the gulley (62-7).

Danny Loveridge then batted with great determination with Porter to try and get some respectability in the score, and they frustrated Kings for a time before Barnes seemed to have a perfectly good lbw shout against Porter turned down. However if Porter's luck was in that time it ran out the next ball. Another lbw appeal did get a positive reaction from the umpire, although this time the batsman had appeared to have got some bat to ball, but maybe justice had been done after all (74-8). There then followed a frustrating period for Kings as Loveridge and Aziz picked up some goods runs, with some excellent running and some fine shots. However Aziz was finally undone when bowled by Miah (94-9) and then following a fine over from Barnes, which included two excellent balls to finish ensured Loveridge was kept off strike enabling Kings to bowl at last man Pete Adams. Having survived his first ball Adams was beaten all ends up when Joel Miah then up rooted the tailenders off stump to bring the innings to an end. Kempton had been dismissed for just 98.

Having bowled out their opponents so early Kings were rewarded with, what would have been, a maximum of 51 overs to chase the 99 runs they needed. They got on their way from the first ball with Dave Perry picking up a single. After that it was Joel Miah who led the scoring as he laid into some good shots against the pace of Loveridge and the left arm spin of Rashid. Kings were quarter of the way toward their target when the first of several dubious umpiring decisions was made by the new umpire. With Rashid bowling left arm over, and slanting the ball across Perry, the batsman was adjudged leg before when the natural angle of the ball would have pushed it wide of off stump (26-1). However Miah and Evans looked in little difficulty as they continued to push the score on. Miah was fortunate to survive when Porter dropped him in the deep off Rashid, and later the same fielder committed the same offense this time off Saverimuttu. However Kings pushed on, with the young batsman leading the way. The half way point was reached and there seemed no reason why Kings would not go on to win with some ease.

However having put on fifty for the second wicket, Saverimuttu, who was getting some terrific bounce from the pitch, then appealed for leg before against Evans, despite the ball striking him on the back thigh, above the pad - once again the umpire favoured the bowler and Evans was out for a valiant 17 (77-2). Miah and Gordon Young then took Kings within touching distance of the winning line before Young gave a sharp pad bat catch to Rashid off Saverimuttu (87-3). There then followed a howler of a decision from the umpire when Barnes, back in his crease was struck on the thigh guard with the ball clearly going over the stumps but Porter's appeal for lbw was upheld, the umpires finger going up before the appeal had really started (88-4).

Kings disappointment at this decision was soon over shadowed as the 14 year old Miah then hit the three runs he needed to take him to his maiden fifty, the applause and cheers from his team mates told how proud and pleased they were for him. His Dad who sat on the sideline waiting to go in next, may even have shed a tear! Soon after, Porter hit the pads and appealed again, this time against Pipe and once again Porter got an immediate decision from the umpire in his favour (95-5). This brought Miah father and son together and within five balls the game was won, with 19 overs and 3 balls to spare.

This was an outstanding performance by Kings, some superb bowling from all the bowlers, led by Simon Pipe, and supported well in the field had seen them blow away a talented batting line up. With the bat Joel Miah had shone and even the three debatable lbw's (given by the Kempton umpires) could not over shadow the joy Kings had in beating their landlords. Kempton's Ben Osbourne stated after the game that Kings' decision to bowl after winning the toss was the most bizarre decision of the season, just shows what he knows because the result said otherwise! With the game over just after 6:30 the celebrations began and continued long into the night.