KING'S ROAD CRICKET AND SOCIAL CLUB

MATCH REPORT: Wet, Wet, Wet! But there is no Sweet Little Mystery bowler for The Road as South Bank reign in the rain

Full Scorecard: http://kingsroadcsc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3674284

King’s Road lost by six wickets in a rain-soaked match against South Bank Cricket Club, but that does not reflect how tight the match was.

In fact, going into the last over the win was up for grabs for either side, with SBCC knocking off The Road’s total with only two balls to spare.

This came hot on the heels of the reverse fixture two weeks earlier, which KRCSC had won by one run, indicating how closely matched the two sides are.

South Bank won the toss at Dulwich Sports Club, and elected to field, and almost immediately the rain started.

It did not stop all afternoon.

Unperturbed, stand-in skipper Jamie Keating sent out Matt Small and Peter Jackson “The Hyphen” Eastwood. And Smalley wasted no time, sweeping his first ball for four in a trademark fashion.

PEJ was more circumspect initially but soon got in on the runs, and the pair went on to make a classy 50 partnership in trying conditions.

Peter was the first to fall, caught for 14, with Smalley not far behind having made a career best of 41.

Chris MacNicol was paired up with Road newbie John Pinkos and they continued scoring at a reasonable rate (putting on a partnership of 46) before the former was bowled for 27 by the impressive Wahla, who had taken all three of South Bank’s wickets.

The Road were 110-3 and looking good, but it wasn’t long before Raju Mazumder was pinned LBW by Scarborough for a duck.

This prompted fears of an all too familiar middle-order collapse by KRCSC, but captain Keating steadied the ship, with a powerful 16, including a majestic scoop for six.

Keats fell with Pinkos not far behind for 17, a score that did not reflect the quality of his innings.

With nine overs left, Mark Isham and Mo Shaboodien built a controlled partnership of 51, with them finishing 23* and 30* respectively.

The score of 199-6 looked a defendable one for The Road, with the wicket playing well, but an outfield getting wetter by the minute.

KRCSC opened-up with Ali Tyzack and debutant Oscar Newlove.

Both bowled well and kept the SBCC openers in check (Oscar returned figures of 0-16 off six overs), but wickets were sadly elusive.

That was until the final ball of Ali’s spell, when Keating moved Isham out of slip, and into short extra-cover.
That very delivery was driven hard by the left-handed Cohen, and Isham dived full stretch to his right to pluck the ball out of the air with one hand.

The very next ball Pinkos hit the top of Thorton’s off-stump, and from nowhere South Bank were 46-2.
The Road sensed the opportunity, but SBCC’s three and four were good batsmen and started to wrestle the game back taking on the slow bowlers Rossi and Keating.

At drinks it was hanging in the balance.

Isham and Small were finding some swing and beating the outside edge, but that wasn’t slowing the run rate.

Finally, they combined to take a third wicket, Isham swinging the ball away from Dollin, who edged a drive high to backward point, with Smalley catching well over his head.

By that stage the third wicket partnership had put on 106, and SBCC were 152-3.

They needed runs at five an over, not an easy ask on that wicket with a new batsmen in, but with the impressive Gant scoring well.

It was left on Mo and Smalley to bowl the final overs and keep it tight, a task they did well.
Mo chipped in with a wicket too, Scarborough lobbing a chance to PEJ at square leg, which he pouched easily.

But there were rushed singles, overthrows and with every over that went by neither side seemed able to land the decisive blow to win the game.

With one over left, Smalley needed to bowl a maiden for The Road to win.

First ball: defended dot ball.

Second ball: driven straight at fielder John Pinkos who almost lost a leg in the process, no run.

The third: attempted run, shy at the stumps and missed which nearly resulted in overthrows; keep calm Kings Road.

Fourth ball: Magnificent drive for four by Gant, ensuring he finished on 85* and SBCC won the game.

It meant The Road slipped to their first defeat of the season, but they can take heart from a good bowling performance, and the fact they are yet to be bowled out in 2018.

The next match will be at the same venue, against Sunday Times, a fixture which always produces an entertaining afternoon.

MotM: Matt Small for a great knock of 41 (honourable mentions to Isham and Mo for all round performance)

Champagne moment: Mark Isham for his low dived one-handed catch (honourable mentions to Keats for his scoop for six, and John Pinkos for his first Road wicket)

Most embarrassing moment: Debutant Oscar Newlove for “doing an Amir” and running away from the ball in the field (honourable mention to John for saying “Everybody ready in the field!” and letting one straight past him the very next ball)

Tantrum: Chris Brown when he realised he’d been sold talcum powder in Columbia

Oscar Newlove

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