Woodmansterne CC vs Kings CC

Sunday 15th August 

Kings lost by 55 runs

Kings traveled to Woodmansterne with four players making their debut for the side, with the team boasting no less than 3 Tom's and 3 Paul's! Heavy showers over the previous few days saw Kings confronted with the first green outfield in several weeks - however the pitch had also taken a lot of water and had been heavily rolled into flattened mud in some places. The home side batted first and with Smith and Nangle running late Kings took to the field with 9 players and with one of the debut boys Tom Berrett keeping wicket. Kings got a breakthrough in the first over when Edwards set off for a suicidal single and Bygrave's accurate pick up and throw to Berrett saw the batsman run out by some distance. A second wicket followed in the 3rd over when Mannering in attempting to turn Daye into the legside got a leading edge and Tom Mumford took a comfortable catch in the covers. With Daye and Sones making the most of the helpful conditions both Hick brothers had to play with care. Kings then introduced two new players to the attack with Tom Moore and Paul Briers coming on. Moore struck early, J Hicks being bowled when attempting to sweep Moore. Then Briers should have had R Hicks caught when he lifted the bowler to deep mid wicket but Nangle was unable to hold onto the chance. However Nangle was to make amends soon after when he pulled off a  sublime catch, and a certain candidate for catch of the season, when Jonkins puled Briers powerfully to square leg and Nangle diving to his right plucked the ball from the air one handed. Despite Croft falling cheaply, new boys Moore and Mumford combining, R Hicks continued to cause problems with some lusty shots and seemed to be destined to complete his century until Kings surprise package came into the attack. With Berrett keeping wicket, King usual 'stumper' Steve Smith had had a rare day in the outfield and when he came was brought into the attack he quickly claimed the wicket of Hicks, whose attempt to clear the deep mid wicket boundary only saw him successfully caught by Nangle, and give Smith his first ever wicket for Kings. It was soon to be two wickets for Smith and 3 catches for Nangle, as the home team skipper Meadowcroft played a sccop shot straight to backward square. The returning Pat Daye accounted for Morris, caught at cover point yet again by Paul Nangle, who equaled the club record in taking his 4th catch of the innings. Smith took his third wicket when trapping Westbrook leg before - and the Woodmansterne were all out when Jacobs got an outside edge and Berrett took the catch to give Daye his 3rd wicket. 

Despite being bowled out in less than 35 overs, Woodmansterne had still managed to post a highly respectable 175 on what was a troublesome wicket, however Kings could be pleased with their efforts in the field given their makeshift side, with all the debut lads making a contribution - whilst Smith (3-21) and Daye (3-22) performed well, superbly supported by Paul Nangle's record equalling 4 catches in the outfield.

Kings, with a weakened batting line up, needed a good start, but against some excellent accurate bowling from Westbrook and Hiscox Kings found it almost impossible to get the score going - Miller taking 24 balls to get off the mark. An early loss of Mumford (4-1) caught and bowled by Westbrook, was an early set back for the visitors. By the 10th over Kings had just 13 runs on the board as Miller and Berrett continued to battle against some intelligent bowling. However they started to make some headway, but when Miller got a loose ball from Mannering his determination to cash in saw his mistimed shot caught at mid off (28-2). With Berrett now joined by the inform Nangle hopes were high that Kings could now start to make to headway, and these two built a good partnership of 30, with Berrett being the biggest contributor. Yet in the 20th over Nangle walked past a straight ball from Mannering and was easily stumped (58-3). Kings best hope was supporting Berrett, and Bygrave successfully supported enough to see Berrett bring up his fifty in his first game for Kings. But in the 28th over the returning Hiscox saw Berrett feather a catch behind (86-4) and effectively end any chance Kings had left. The return of the impressive Westbrook just about finished Kings off as Smith (92-5) Bygrave (92-6) Daye (94-7) Young (94-8) all fell in quick succession - Westbrook returning figures of 4-7 off his eight overs. A late flourish followed as Woodmansterne rang the changes with the bowling, allowing Briers and Moore to enjoy themselves. Moore became the 9th wicket to fall before Sones survive the easiest caught and bowled chance ever seen to allow Kings to drag the score to 120-9 at the end.

An entertatining game had been dominated by two batsmen, Hicks making 93 of 175 for Woodmansterne, and Berrett making 53 of Kings 120 - in the day the pitch was the ultimate winner!

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