On
the day of England's World Cup match against Ecuador Kings played
hosts to Shepperton. With the important football match due to
kick off at 16.00 the start time of the game was brought forward
with the innings due to be split either side of the football.
Shepperton fielded a considerably weaker side than in previous
matches between the sides but a good game was still in prospect.
Having won the toss Kings decided to bat first with a game plan
to score quickly and set up an early declaration.
Kings
opened with Dave Perry and Gordon Young and got the flying start
they 
had
desired as first Perry and then Young scored freely. Shepperton's
Ahmed was the main bowler to suffer, his opening spell of five
overs going for 40 runs, including a six over extra cover by Perry.
By the tenth 
over
Kings had 65 on the board and the the 100 was reached in the 17th
over as the scoring rate showed no signs of slowing. Both batsmen
were both in the groove and there seemed a race as to who would
reach their
fifty first. However Young fell just four runs short when Davies
took an outstanding catch at slip (106-1). Perry, however duly
completed his 43rd half century for Kings (the 49th time in all
that he had passed fifty). He and Evans then went totally onto
the attack and started scoring at more than a run a ball as Kings
pushed toward a declaration target with superbly struck 
boundaries,
including a six from Evans, and good running. With the score rapidly
approaching 200 and Perry destined for a century the declaration
was held back but the return of Ahmed saw Perry edge behind to
be dismissed for 93, made from just 80 balls and included 12 fours
and 1 six. At the fall of the wicket the innings was declared
at 196-2, Evans continuing his great form with 36 not out from
28 balls.
The
early declaration allowed Kings to have 25 minutes bowling at
the visitors before the extended tea break. Eight overs were bowled
in this time without any due alarm for Shepperton and they went
to tea at 16-0. However when the players returned to the field
after England had won 1-0, Pipe struck almost 
immediately,
Smyth playing defensively only for the ball to roll off bat, pad
and boot onto the stumps (17-1). Davies and Hermes enjoyed some
luck as Pipe and Sones saw edged chances missed or dropped in
the slips. Eventually Pipe did breakthrough again bowling Hermes
(37-2). Then an attempted quick single between Davies and Ahmed
saw the former run out following good work by Melligan and Perry
(42-3). There then followed a frustrating partnership between
Ahmed and captain Andy Harn as some half chances went begging
and some genuine ones missed. However the introduction of Young
and the return of Norman suddenly gave Kings the chance of victory
as five wickets fell for just 1 run. First Young 
bowled
Ahemd (88-4) and then he had Harn superbly stumped by Perry (94-5).
Jordan and Roberts both fell without scoring to Norman and Young
respectively before S.Harn fell to a run out, Melligan and Perry
again combining superbly. Totty was then bowled by Norman which
left young Gadsby to try and see out the remaining over. Despite
men crowding the bat and three half chances just failing to go
to hand the Shepperton colt survived to gain his side a draw much
to relief of his team mates and with great admiration from both
Shepperton and King players on how the young lad had dealt with
the pressure situation.
