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Kings CC V Warwick Castle CC 15-Jul-07 |
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After weeks of poor weather Kings were finally able to put their cricketing qualities to the test when they entertained Warwick Castle at home. On a muggy, but overcast day the visitors won the toss and put Kings into bat in a straight 35 over a side contest. With both regular batsmen missing it was down to Gordon Young and Dave Blissett to lead from the front, which they did superbly. A mixture of wayward bowling and good clean hitting from Dave got the innings off to a flyer and the 50 was brought up for Kings within 8 overs. Warwick Castle tried to change things but with no luck as Gordon then got in on the act and after 12 overs the score had reached 96-0. Blissett was looking good and brought up his 50 in no time at all, and then decided to take the game further to Warwick with a flurry of boundaries including a big 6 into the trees. Unfortunately with the score on 96 Blissett was bowled for 66 off only 50 balls, his highest score in 11 years and his 2nd highest score for Kings but his contribution had put Kings into a healthy state at 96-1 off only 13 overs. This brought Richard Evans to the crease, and after a couple of low scoring overs both himself and Young put the Warwick boys further on the back foot rotating the strike with some lovely cover drives from Young and the excellent back foot pulls and hooks from Evans. At drinks Kings had reached 115-1 off 17 overs. Right after drinks, the run rate was picked up again and Young went on to reach his 50, having given only the 1 chance when on 15, caught off a no ball. The Warwick bowlers had no answer and their frustration rubbed off on to the fielders whose fielding became more disinterested as the innings went on. Evans and Young pushed the score on and after 28 overs had passed the 200 mark. With 7 overs still to go both batsmen showed their power, hitting some massive blows including a couple of big sixes and a flurry of 4's off the poor Warwick bowling. Evans soon brought up his well deserved 50, his 15th for the club. As Kings closed in on a new record score Young was dropped by long off on 98, and then caught - again off a no ball on 99. Blowing hard through the nervous 90's Young reached his well deserved 100 with a quick single. Kings finished with 13 off the last over but could only tie the clubs record score of 273, but on this occasion it came from just 35 overs and for the loss of only 1 wicket. Young finished on 101 NO from 101 balls, his 2nd century for the club and Evans NO on 66, a partnership of 177!! After a lovely tea Warwick's openers came out to the middle needing a mere 7.8 runs an over. Miah and Melligan opened up and bowled well without much luck with poor fielding and dull batting being the problem, but with the run rate rising Melligan found the breakthrough with a caught and bowled to leave Warwick reeling further. With Warwick's run rate creeping up, Smith made a double bowling change bringing Mears and Gale into the attack. Mears bowled without much luck and was unfortunately expensive while Gale took the wicket of the other opener, with a good catch from Sones over his shoulder. The intervention of a bizarre wide could not turn the game Warwick's way though as with another double bowling change Tighe and Pipe ripped through the middle/lower order. Tighe bowled full and straight and had 3 victims bowled and 1 caught at midwicket whilst Pipe bowled with aggression and claimed 2 batsmen bowled and a well taken caught and bowled. Warwick Castle were bowled out for 129 after only 29 overs….Giving Kings a win of 144 runs. Young was the Man of the Match with his 101 No followed by tighe's figures of 4-11 off 5 overs… Kings will be taking on rivals Kempton next Sunday and judging by this performance they will need to improve their fielding considerably if they wish to get anything from this game!! Jamie Gale
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