Kempton CC vs Kings CC

LANDMARK FINALLY REACHED!

KEMPTON CC vs KINGS CC

SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER

The final game of the season may have finished in the traditional defeat at the hands of Kempton but it was the landmark that was reached during the game that stole the headlines. After so many weeks of trying, not forgetting those many overs of toil at Shalford, Pipey finally took the wicket that took him to 400 career wickets. And what a wicket it was - cleaning up Kempton's Andy Ward middle stump. There was genuine reaction of pleasure and congratulations from team mates, many slaps on the back and hand shakes all round and most of all a big beaming smile on Pipey's face.

The game itself followed the usual end of season pattern. Kempton, fielding a stong side with many of their better players, batted first, racked up the runs and we then valliantly did our best to chase it down - and as per usual against their experienced league bowlers we didnt have the talent to get close. But that did not tell the whole story. We won the toss and let them have a bat - Kempton Skipper and ex-Kings man Joel Miah admitted he would have batted had he won the toss, so both sides were comfortable with the decision. Given the continuing slow nature of the Kempton pitches this season it was perhaps no surprise that Kempton included 5 spinners in their side. We, however, lost JG on the morning of the game, but were fortunate that with Ellis Miah surplus to Kempton requirements we were able to call upon one of Kempton's best batsmen to fill in. But it was with the ball that Ellis first entered the game - he opened the bowling along with the surprise success of our season; the Colonel. Gary Porter made quick progress off Ellis with some juicy edges and managed to starve the big hitting Budd from the strike. The Colonel did as he has previously, by giving the batsmen no pace to work with. Porter continued to race along and after 5 overs the home team were scoring at 8 an over! We then made a strategic change taking the pace off by bringing Smurfette into the attack. This slower pace did for Budd, a huge mow across the line saw him lose his middle peg (46-1) and then Smurfette struck again, a flighted ball saw Porter go for the big shot, only to get a thick outside edge and the ball skied up to the magnet hands of Nange (49-2). After that we were milked around the park! With Joely showing us all the talent we have missed all season since he threw his lot in with Kings to play for Kempton on sundays and Wardy doing what he always does we were well and truely on the backfoot. With so much talent to bowl against we needed to really bowl at our best but Ginge had a bad day at the office and Pipey's early radar was off the mark. The way things were going we were looking at maybe chasing 280+. But then came the moment Pipey had been waiting for. An effort ball didnt get up as much as Wardy expected, bat caught on pad, and the middle stump was laying backwards. It was the wicket we really wanted, and as Pipey had said if he was to get to 400th on this day he could think of no better victims than either Wardy or Joel - he got his wish, better than some 14 year old at Shalford! (118-3) The wicket brough big Al Inwood in to bat and we knew what would undoubtedly follow. Some lusty blows followed but when Ellis returned to push one through a little quicker Inwood was pinned on the crease without playing much of a shot and got sent his marching orders, he left making it very clear what he thought of the decision (133-4). Needless to say we didnt expect to run through them and with Joel, batting superbly, ablely supported by Trev Warne they really started to frustrate us but at least we reeled in the run rate. Joel seemed to have so much time to pick his spot and never gave us a sniff - it only left us a reminder of what we had missed this season. Pipey, Watneys, and Wasp all did their best but it was pretty much a one way street as the runs flowed with ease. It seemed only a matter of time before Joel made it to his a maiden century - secretly I think none of us would have minded had he done so - but then having just been reminded by Ginge that he was in the nervous 90's he went for a drive off Wasp over mid off and Watneys lept and plucked the ball one handed from the air (220-5). Warne senior fell shortly after, cleaned up by Wasp as he played an agressive pull shot (221-6), and then Ginge came back to claim his 17th wicket of the season as Makwana danced down the track, was beaten, and Dr.Lecter took the bails off for his 50th career stumping for Kings (229-7). A late flurry, and some very tired and aged fielding from us allowed Darty and Sethi to push the score onto 241 at the close.

With a sizeable total to chase we pushed Ellis up to open with Al Wright. As was expected Kempton went with spin from the off, taking all the pace off the ball. This made scoring difficult for our batters but Ellis was soon rolling off the boundaries and despite openly admitting to not liking spin Al was soon plundering some boundaries as well. It seemed unreal to see Danny Loveridge with figures of 0-22 off 4 overs and we started to feel a level of confidence about the run chase. In fact we were doing so well in our agrression that Joel had posted boundary riders out. The tactic worked as then Al picked out deep long on (41-1). Needless to say Watneys arrival at the crease meant the level of rather inane chirping and needless insults increased but Watneys was quick to ensure Loveridge didnt settle against him and the their lead spinner ended with 1-43 from his 8 overs (5.37 per over!). Ellis and Watneys continued to do well, picking up the singles with ease and trying to keep the scoring up with the required rate with a boundary here and there. There seemed little threat from the bowlers as on the slow pitch runs came along smoothly, but then Watneys pushed for a quick single and a smart bit of fielding saw Inwood hit the one stump he had to aim at (87-2). Watneys departed the field with expected but totally unrequired comments ringing in his ears - the level of sledging reaching new levels that are becoming so tiresome. But surely Watneys could take some consolation on an excellent season for Kings. Not long after Nange departed, looking like a man who had played only a few games all season (102-3). As the Kempton bowlers turned the screw scoring became more and more difficult and we started to fall behind the run rate. Ellis and Pipey gave it one last shot but Pipey fell to Bateson's slower ball and then it all became about seeing if Ellis could do what his brother couldnt. But having reached 75 Ellis walked past one from Warne and was bowled and after that Ginge and Colonel decided to see out the overs and ensure Kempton didnt have the pleasure of taking any more of us with them.

The defeat was possibly predictable. With Kempton turning out what would be a decent first XI league side continue to have the better of the matches and surely a closer game would be experienced, against an aging side such as ours, if their younger players (who often make some of the usual Sunday side) were given a go. No matter, we held our heads high, and gave all we could - despite some rank fielding! For us, the milestones reached by Pipey and Dr. Lecter were the great take aways - and it was us who seemed the happier team as we quaffed beers in the setting sun of yet another season.