The
much anticipated return of the President's match finally arrived
on a lovely Bank Holiday afternoon. Playing the second game of
the weekend Kings rang several changes from the match the day
before to match up against a strong President's team. As is the
protocol on such occasions the President, Dave Miah, was invited
to make his decision as to what he would like to do - and he decide
to bat first.
Miah opened the batting with himself and Alan Inwood. They made
a watchful start against some good bowling from both Joel Miah
and Richard Sones. However despite this the bowlers were unable
to make an early breakthrough against some determined batting.
However when the second change bowling came into the attack they
were able to push on as both batsmen were quick to seize on some
wayward bowling from Simon Pipe. However Bygrave was bowling well
and he made the breakthrough in the 20th over when he had the
President caught at slip by Wright for a solid 42 (71-1). It was
Bygrave who struck again when six overs later he had Inwood caught
by Perroo (84-2).
The
President's team continued to push on looking to set a good score
but the re-introduction of Joel Miah plus Gordon Young joining
the attack clearly swung the game Kings way. Young had the free
scoring Shiraz caught behind by Smith (129-3) and then Miah struck
twice in an over when he superbly took a return catch off his
own bowling to dismiss his brother Ellis (131-4) and then bowled
Borland without scoring (131-5). Dibley and Mears (playing for
the President) then helped move the score along with some good
fortune thrown in before Miah claimed his third wicket when he
had Dibley caught behind (154-6). Osborn tried to push on but
perished when he charged Young and was bowled (163-7). Soon after
in the 40th over the President made a very generous and sporting
declaration.
Kings response was led off by Dave Perry and Danny Perroo against
some good
bowling from Borland and Akram. However the Kings batsmen paced
the innings superbly and were solid in defence and quick to punish
anything slightly off line. With Perry playing with superb concentration
and Perroo relying
on his natural good eye they soon had the scoreboard moving along
well up with the required rate. Adams was introduced to the attack
in place of Borland and Inwood took over from Akram. But still
the bowlers could not get the breakthrough they needed. Both batsmen
were in complete control in a batting master class.
Perroo
was leading the way and he was first to reach his half century,
his maiden fifty for Kings, with a mixture of fine pulls and drives,
whilst Perry was showing all his class as he passed 500 runs for
the season. The President himself
took up the attack with Mears but still the batsmen were equal
to the task, although Shiraz should have caught Perroo off Mears
he failed to take a relatively easy chance. Perry then completed
his six half century of the season and soon after the game was
won by Kings with all 10 wickets intact.
A decisive win for Kings was played in a superb atmosphere and
spirit from both sides. A highly enjoyable afternoon, was finished
off with an evening buffet and the announcement of Danny Perroo
as the Kings man-of-the-match whilst the President won the same
accolade from within his own team.
