Priestfield 28May06

With the previous weeks game cancelled due to persistent rain Kings kicked off their home matches for 2006 with a game against Priestfield Wanderers. The corresponding fixture the previous season had seen a high scoring match with few wickets falling and this season was to see the bat dominate the ball once again - however this season there was a nail biting finish. Following rain the day before the pitch was still damp and was likely to favour the bowlers early on. Having won the toss the visitors had not hesitation in asking Kings to bat first.

Dave Perry and Joel Miah opened the innings for Kings and found the early overs reasonably tough against some good bowling from Cornet and Creed, the latter getting the ball to nip back off the pitch. However Perry soon started to find his feet and drove on the up quite well, whilst Miah was content to manoeuvre the ball into the gaps. However Creed was still causing some problems and in the 10th over Perry drove again but this time straight to Rodborune at mid off who took a comfortable catch (28-1). This brought Richard Evans and Joel Miah together in a partnership that swung the game Kings way. With a slow outfield restricting boundaries the pair worked hard to keep the scoreboard ticking over and managed to add a further 89 runs in the next 22 overs before Evans called for a quick single but was unable to ground his bat in time (117-2). Melligan could have fallen early but was dropped at short mid wicket and after this shaky start he soon started to find his feet. Meanwhile Miah was playing faultlessly and successfully passed his half century. Miah was dismissed by Marsh for a fine innings of 76 (135-3) which saw Tighe once again promoted up the order to push the scoring rate on - he made 15 from 12 balls before he played across a straight one from the returning Creed (153-4). However the next nine overs were to see the acceleration Kings really needed as Paul Norman hit the ground running with some explosive hitting which saw him and Melligan push the score past 200. Norman despatched Creed for six in what was to be a vital shot before the innings was declared at 209-4.

When Kings came to bowl they found the pitch and outfield had both dried out making batting a whole lot easier, as openers Cation and Green were to prove. Although Miah did provide a stern test to both batsmen, especially Green, both started to play with authority as they impressively pushed the score on. As much as Kings pushed for the breakthrough Cation seemed to relish the challenge, scoring with ease between mid on and mid wicket, this despite a strengthened field. The visitors marched relentlessly toward an impressive opening stand - even the introduction of Paul Norman could not reduce the scoring as both batsmen passed fifty. With 120 without loss there was clearly going to be only one winner of the game and Kings turned to James Melligan to make his bowling debut. This proved a turning point as first Green holed out at deep mid wicket, and then Cation played across a straight one to give Kings to unexpected wickets. A third wicket was gifted to Kings when Imber was called on a sharp single but was beaten by the throw which Tighe gathered well to run the batsman out. Still, the odds were on a Preistfield victory with just 20 needed from the last five overs. Melligan took some punishment from Rodborune but he came back strongly as did the returning Joel Miah. With four needed off the last over Preistfield were still firm favourites but a superb over from Miah saw first Marsh and then Cornet both bowled. With the target still four from just one ball, Steve Smith, who was skippering whilst Rob Young was off the field injured, placed every man save himself on the boundary and the resultant scampered leg bye left Preistfield three runs from their target with 5 wickets in hand.

For Kings it seemed more like a victory than a draw. A solid performance all round with the bat throughout had seen Kings post a defendable total, whilst Miah had performed superbly again making an excellent half century and then producing a great performance with the ball when the pressure was on. For the visitors it was a case of so near but so far!