HEADLEY CC vs KINGS CC

A combination of the excitement of the start of the season, lack of practice, a too aggressive approach and some inspired catching led to a disappointing result for Kings. In a batting display Kings would like to forget saw them crumble to their lowest score for 6 years - while their opponents emphatically romped to a 8 wicket victory

The Kings innings got off to the worst possible start when off the final ball of the first over Dave Perry cut Clarke to the short square boundary where the fielder took a comfortable catch (1-1). Richard Warne, who with a couple of games already under his belt, soon had the score board moving with some typical lusty shots which seemed to promise that the loss of Perry might not be too costly. However having just hit a superb lofted six over the short boundary he was caught at deep square leg to give Clarke his second wicket (33-2). The arrival of Dave Wright to the crease saw no change to the aggressive attitude to the batting approach as the score rattled along. Clarke was was replaced by leg spinner Pickering, who provided a different challenge for Dave Miller and Wright, but the batsman seemed to be riding the threat well until Wright pulled a ball square of the wicket where the square leg fielder casually stuck out a hand to take an excellent one handed catch (62-3). Although the scoring was impressive 3 wickets down by the end of the 10th over was the warning signs of what was to come.

A steadying period followed where Miller and Owen Mears tried to consolidate the position - and only 16 runs were scored in the next 8 overs - compared to the rate of 6 per over in the previous 10 overs. But with the consolidation also came the need to keep the runs ticking over, and when Mears got the chance his miss timed shot looped back over the bowler who then made up ground quickly to take a return catch, although from the side lines it seemed the bowler may have spilled the catch as he went to ground (78-4). From this point on the innings went into freefall, the vigil that had seen Miller acquire 26 runs in 20 overs came to an end when he was bowled off his pads by Waller (80-5), and then Melligan fell to an excellent one hand catch by 3rd slip to give Pickering his 3rd wicket (80-6). Pat Daye announced his arrival at the wicket with a sweet dance down the track and then lifted the leg spinner to the mid wicket boundary. However when he tried a similar approach to Waller he was bowled (85-7) and when Nick Tighe spliced a full toss back to Pickering Kings were reduced to 85-8. Steve Smith was bowled by Seymour (89-9) and when Skipper Young was caught Kings disappointing performance came to an end at 94 all out

With the innings lasting just 26 overs there was plenty of time for the home team to chase their target, so Kings needed quick wickets. The breakthrough they desperately needed should of come when Tighe drew the edge from but the ball flew between Miller and Bygrave at 1st and 2nd slip. However the wicket did come when Daye drew a mistake from Lumby and the bowler quickly got back to take a smart caught and bowled. Daye could have had another wicket shortly after when Chapman drove on the up but Perry back peddling at mid off could not get back quickly enough to get under the chance. Tighe beat the outside edge several times as Kings probed for another wicket. The breakthrough came when a smart piece of fielding between Warne and Daye saw Seymour run out by some distance. However the game suddenly swung to the home team as Chapman and Pickering M went on the offessive and with the help of the short boundary, and two no balls, Champman took 36 off Daye's 5th over with a some nice pick up shots, two straight drives and a square cut. With the game effectively over after this powerful display Kings brought up the field and the game was over after four balls of Bygrave's first over as Headley romped to victory

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