Woodmansterne 11May08

The old cliché catches win matches certainly came home to roost when Kings played Woodmansterne. After losing the toss and having to field and on a beautiful unseasonably warm spring afternoon Kings had made a superb start in the field and had got themselves into a position of strength against their hosts. However Woodmansterne managed to recover from a precarious 59-5 to a far more challenging total by the end of the 40 overs.

It had all started so well for Kings as Joel Miah and Simon Pipe made impressive starts with the ball. Pipe had made an early breakthrough bowling Park (21-1) and after some impressive overs without reward Miah accounted for 'Woods' skipper Jacobs when the batsman tried to cut a ball that was too close to his off stump (21-2). When Dave Miller snapped up a sharp chance at mid wicket off Gordon Young (36-3), and Nick Tighe had Movel caught behind by Smith, the keeper taking his 99th career dismissal for Kings in the process, there was only one team in it (36-4). Even more so when Young struck again when bowling Mannering (59-5).

However from then on the game started to slip from Kings grasp, Gellard was dropped twice before making double figures, and then again when on 18. This gave the batsman growing confidence to play all manner of less than conventional shots and any other day Kings could claim to be unlucky as edges and mistimed shots just evaded fielders, however when Gellard was dropped again Kings could only blame themselves. Melligan was brought into the attack and that brought the wicket of Anderson but not before 56 had been added for the 6th wicket (115-6). Gellard's charmed life continued as he moved toward fifty, but ably supported by Hick they took the score to 147 before Pipe picked up his second and 299th career wicket. Gelard's enthusiasm almost cost him his wicket when he was nearly run out when being sent back from attempting a second run, and he survived when calling his partner on a suicide run which saw Patel run out (156-8). To rub salt into the wound number 10 Meadowcroft came out all guns blazing in bludgeoning 22, including 12 off the last over, to take the final score to 185 for 8.

The Kings reply made a steady start as Miller and Perry contended with some good opening bowling. But the good solid start needed came to an end when Miller was caught behind in the 5th over (15-1). Perry and Warne did however offer some hope when compiling a useful stand, Warne supplying the lions share of a stand of 46, his 31 included 5 boundaries, yet just as he was looking well set he was bowled by Anderson (61-2). Soon after Perry was caught on the crease (69-3) and there then followed a collapse as Kings slumped to 77-6 losing Melligan, G.Young and Wright in quick succession. Kings retained some hope with a long batting line up and with Miah, Pipe and Tighe batting at 7,8 and 9 respectively there was still plenty of experience to call upon. However hope was dashed when Miah was caught at mid off (98-7) and more so when Tighe then edged to slip (106-8) With a climbing run rate the odds looked stacked against Kings but Pipe and skipper Young had one last dash at the target with 11 overs left and 79 needed. Things were going well as both batsmen found the boundary and 29 were added in just 4 overs. However when Pipe departed for a breezy 27 the chase effectively ended (135-9). The innings came to an end soon after when last man Smith was caught at cover.

For Kings it was a case of what might have been. Had the chances been taken the target would have been more within their grasp and the pressure on the middle order maybe not so great.