Kings in check
Fillongley 271-8, King’s Heath 183-9 Winning draw 18 points
For the second week on the trot we were just one wicket away from a 24 point win. This time we had three overs at the last pair but missed out on the full 24. Ben Fleming has been getting out to his second big shot (third or fourth ball) so the order got changed (except for Aaron and Reg who have an injunctions in place keeping them at 4 and 2). Phil decided that we ought to test out the order so chose to bat on a green wicket which gave lots of help to the seamers in the first hour before becoming more batsman friendly in the second innings.
A lot went past the bat early on, one hitting Reggies leg stump, but the score built up at four an over. We were on top with Tom Nightingale, batting 3, hitting some top shots and benefitting from some slack catching. Aaron made 30 at better than a run a ball, especially enjoying batting against their fourth bowler Syed went for 31 in two overs. When he was given out, Ben started hitting to all quarters and for a time it was ten an over. The high point was 174-3 in 28 overs, which with a following wind would be a seriously big total. Tom made 81 and Ben 52. Kings were thankful for Bannister, their sixth bowler of eight used, bowling 9 overs for just 20. A really excellent effort in the context of the game. In retroWe batted the 50 overs for 271-8, though in retrospect (and with hindsight) we might have been better served keeping up the scoring rate and being bowled out for or five overs short.
On a hot muggy day there were a fair few close decisions and a fair few occasions when I could hear various pieces of equipment hitting the walls of the dressing room behind the scorebox following dismissals. Thoughts that we had maybe not got the rub of the green faded when this pattern continued through the the Kings innings. A nice tea, though the real attraction of this ground is the club, which is included in the Good Beer Guide. I felt an obligation to check that standards in this regard are being maintained, and am plaesed to confirm that this is the case.
Kings openers Davies and Jeffries are attacking players and went for it from the start, putting on 64. Once again Dave Slade ended any thought of a win so really from quite early on it was a case of Kins going for bonus points and avoiding defeat. Even so, long after I’d stopped working out the run rate I could hear an antipodean voice behind saying “It’s still do-able” and “we only need 27 an over (not really)” then when the required rate moved into the forties “I think it’s gone mate – just stay there – nought not out!). Must have been a similar scenario at Old Trafford when England were 180 odd for 3 chasing 210ish today. I’m not knocking it! .Sladey finished with 5-47 making 33 for the season at an average of just over 11. Steve Gardners took 2-47with his left arm spin and as always caused lots of problems for the batters. So with one game till the halfway point we are sixth, still in with a shout. Big games at the weekend!