Long Ditton 09Jul06

Having drawn at home earlier in the year Kings traveled to Long Ditton for the return fixture. Skipper for the day Steve Smith won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Long Ditton to bat first on a green wicket. The format would be 40 overs with a limited of 8 overs per bowler.

The opening pair of Pipe and Joel Miah were quickly into their grove, restricting the batsmen's scoring opportunities. However the first wicket fell by means of a run out when Tighe gathered quickly and with an accurate throw to keeper Smith, Llyr was out for 1. Pipe was the fist bowler to strike when he saw Cheema D hole out to Perry at mid off for 6. Miah was bowling superbly with very little luck and finished a 6 over spell conceding only 5 runs. He was replaced by Norman who was quickly into the action tempting Price down the track with Smith completing the stumping. There was no rest bite for the batsmen as Pipe continued his good spell having Bennett caught by Dave Miah, and ending his 8 over spell with 2 wickets for just 10 runs.

Tighe replaced Pipe but there was no let up as the batsmen were still finding it difficult to get the bowlers away. Tighe was the next to strike having Hamilton caught by Perry. Bradley started to find his feet and with some excellent shots put on 33 before Norman struck again taking a return catch off his bowling to end his good knock. Young was then brought on to replace Norman and didn't have to wait long as he had Anish caught by Joel Miah for a stubborn 10.

Cheema B was now playing some strokes in an attempt to push the total along. Unfortunately the batsmen at the other end could not stay with him, as first Horgan was smartly stumped by Smith off the bowling of Young for 0, then Lambert hitting a return catch straight back to Young for the same score and in the process become Young's third wicket. The final wicket fell to Evans who had come on to replace Tighe, when he bowled Cheema B for 25. Long Ditton had posted 118 off 37.2 overs.

Kings innings was opened by Perry and Dave Miah with the former quickly into his stride with boundaries both sides of the wicket. However in the 4th over Miah missed a low full toss and was bowled for 4 by Anish. Evans was next to the crease to join Perry for a partnership that was to take us to within touching distance of victory. Both batsmen scoring freely, with Perry especially in fine form following his record 124 the previous week. The pair took the score to over 100 before Evans was adjudged out LBW for a fine 35.

Joel Miah then joined Perry at the crease, and the momentum did not slow as Perry went though to his 50 in style. A few over later Joel struck the winning runs to see us home by 8 wickets, with Perry 58* and Miah 10* in 24 overs.

A great win for Kings with the bowlers once again setting up victory. Joel very unlucky to come out wicket less, Gordon mopping the tail with superb figures of 3 for 6, Simon (2 -10) and Nick (1- 20) fine 8 over spells, Paul with another 2 wickets and even Rich picking up the final wicket.
Not forgetting DP 58* who along with Rich (35) made sure we knocked off the runs in good time.