On
the hottest day of the year, so far, Kings played host to new
opponents Open Page CC in a match that proved to be a totally
one side contest. Stand-in Skipper Steve Smith having won the
toss decided to bat first on a good Kempton wicket.
Kings first choice openers led the way and were soon under way
with Miller 
edging
through the slips for a couple of runs. Kings openers dominated
and by the tenth over had moved the score to 37 without any due
concerns. The scoring rate continued to climb as the batsmen made
hay under a hot unforgiving sun. Pogmore's third over cost 14
runs, as the ball was 
dispatched
to the boundary on three occasions as both Perry and Miller punished
anything slightly off line. So it was a surprise when Perry, having
made a fluent 31 was bowled McMinnis (75-1) but once again the
openers had given Kings the perfect start, with their third successive
fifty run opening stand.
There
was no respite for the visitor's bowlers though and Evans joined
in the fun
.
Not until the 20th over, with the score at 87 was the first, and
only, maiden bowled. However this was more than made up for by
Kings as Bonham's return to the attack saw 16 taken off him. Miller
had by now moved effortlessly past fifty and Evans was well on
the way to join him. The high scoring continued as both batsmen
found the boundary with 
ease.
The 36th over went for 13 runs, and the 38th - 15 including the
boundary that took Miller to his fifth century for Kings. With
the score past 200 Smith declared in the 38th over with Evans
unbeaten on 46, whilst Miller had carried his bat for a super
103.
Chasing 215 to win, Open Page's reply proved to be a sorry collapse.
Despite Banks standing firm some good bowling from Mears removed
Marshall, caught by Mackenzie and then McMinnes was trapped lbw
by the same bowler. The bowling hero of the previous week was
then brought into the attack and it was Sones again who was to
be the focus for the remainder of the innings. First he had Irvine
stumped by Smith, then accounted for Gilbert who was caught by
Perry and then Hampson was the next victim bowled by Sones. The
collapse continued as Kyte was run out by a good throw to the
keepers end by Nick Tighe. Sones' fourth wicket came when Pogmore
was bowled and when Smith took a catch behind to dismiss Bonham
it gave Sones his fifth wicket and incredible figures of 5 wickets
for just 9 runs.
The
final wicket fell to Joel Miah who bowled Kaushal to dismiss the
visitors for just 65 runs, in 25 overs, giving Kings their fourth
successive victory, this time by a margin of 149 runs.
