Kingstonians 05Jun05

Kings made it two wins in a row when they emphatically overcame a strong Kingstonians side at Kempton to maintain their unbeaten recorded against the visitors. Fielding one of their strongest side of the season to date Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first in warm sunshine.

It was Kings who got off to the perfect start when Walsh drove at a ball wide of off stump from Simon Pipe but only edged the ball to the safe hands of Dave Miller at first slip. (3-1). However it was not long before Kingstonians Captain Wise got into his stride and he played some powerful shots to get the scoreboard moving. He was joined by Kahlid who drove superbly down the ground off Nick Tighe. Wise was quick on anything short from Tighe, dispatching the ball to the legside boundary without mercy. He was as ruthless on Pipe with some powerful drives. However Pipe struck again when Kahlid played across a yorker to be lbw for 13 (48-2). It seemed only a matter of time before Kings would strike again, as both Tighe and Pipe had the new batsman Montgomery in trouble. Wise was also living dangerously, playing and missing on several occasions. He was also fortunate to survive when he pulled Tighe and Pipe just failed to hold on to a one handed chance at backward square. Yet Wise was also scoring well and twice struck Tighe for six.

Montgomery was also now getting into his stride and Kingstonians moved the score at an impressive rate. Wise passed his fifty with yet another boundary and Kings were desperate for a breakthrough. Joel Miah and Owen Mears replaced the opening bowlers and after a very indifferent start it was Mears who the broke the partnership. Montgomery drove hard straight back toward the bowler and Mears took an impressive catch by his ankles (130-3). Ten runs on and Wise fell to the same style of dismissal. Mears, now in the groove, got some extra bounce which surprised Wise who could only fend the ball to a vacant mid wicket area. Mears moving quickly got close enough before diving to take an outstanding one handed catch (140-4). Kings could not sit back though as Gunesekera played some impressive shots to keep the score moving toward the 200 mark. However the innings was to quickly fold. Samarasinghe was next to go when he played an attempted pull off Miah and could only top edge to square leg where Mears and Evans both seemed determined to take the catch, ultimately Mears plucked the ball just before it fell into Evans hands - the outcome being far better than looked likely when it seemed both would collide in a horrible mess (164-5).

Gunesekera then perished going for another big hit when he holed out to Joel Miah at deep square to give Mears his third wicket (183-6). Norman, who had replaced Miah, then bowled Khan (184-7). Burgess became Mears' fourth wicket when he picked out Pipe and deep mid wicket (194-8). Next ball Mears claimed his fifth wicket when he comprehensively bowled Bennard (194-9). Mears was deprived the chance of a hat-trick when Norman finished the innings off when he bowled Bradley without further addition to the score.

Chasing 195 to win Kings opening pair of Miller and Perry set off in positive manner. This set the tone for the innings as with an array of superb drives, cuts and pulls both batsmen soon got on top of the bowling. In the opening stages Perry was the dominate partner leading the way with an array of fine shots. The only slight chance given was when Perry was dropped at square leg, and that was off a no ball. The fifty run stand came and went as the batsmen continued to time the ball superbly to all parts of the ground. Miller was also into his stride now producing his full collection of cover drives and square cuts. Meanwhile Perry was driving superbly down ground and quick to punish anything with any width.

Perry was first to reach his fifty as he continued his great run of form. With the game now into its last 20 overs and rain clouds approaching Perry was determined to finish the game as quickly as possible and unselfishly lost his wicket when he went for another big shot off Khan to fall for a superb 70. However the ground work had been well and truly laid as the openers had demoralized the opposition by posting a stand of 137. Miller was joined by Evans and the opener also passed fifty, his first of the season, as he now played some classic drives off either foot.

However with victory within site, Miller picked out square leg to give Jacobs an undeserved wicket having made 72 (171-2) It was left to Evans and Joel Miah to finish the game, which they did with a flourish, with Evans playing an immaculate cover drive, whilst Miah played an exquisite leg glance and won the game with a superbly timed shot through mid-wicket. Kings had cruised to victory with nine overs to spare, chiefly thanks to the marvelous opening partnership between Kings experienced opening batsmen and an inspired Owen Mears.