KING'S ROAD CRICKET AND SOCIAL CLUB

Championes! King’s Road crowned kings of the LPL after beating Fudge in league decider

KING’S Road were crowned kings of the LPL after beating reigning champs Cairns Fudge in a nervy league decider.

Needing a 9-point win to secure the title, the Orange Caps burst out of the blocks with a wicket in the first over as Matt Small struck.

The Fudge fought back with Chris – batting in his lunch break from work – and Griff putting on 41 before Kevin Pittaway removed the former.

Chris went for a quickfire 32, just two balls before his time was up and he had to return to his desk.

Mark Isham, following on from his 6-wicket haul against Corridor CC the previous week, then got in on the act snaffling Fudge stalwart Griff.

Kev, who finished with 2 for 14, got his second after being hit for successive fours by Nathan.

Then it became the Isham show yet again as the beanpole seamer struck three more times to finish with 4 for 19.

India’s Number 1 Shailesh Joshi cleaned up the tail to grab 3 for 5 as the Fudge fell apart at the end to finish on 128.

Eyes on the prize ... Isham facing
Eyes on the prize … Isham facing
Boom ... Shailesh is bowled
Boom … Shailesh is bowled

Having gained two bonus points for claiming all the available wickets, The Road were left needing to knock off the runs and secure the win to draw level on points with the London Itinerants.

Due to a superior run-rate that would mean they would claim the title – so 129 at any pace was needed.

The chase started nervously with Jon Malsingh departing for 9 with the score on 26.

Done it ... Rossi hits the winning run
Done it … Rossi hits the winning run
Yesss ... Rossi celebrates
Yesss … Rossi celebrates

The Road’s number 3 fell soon after in a mix up with opener Sham De Silva.

Jack Caeser fell 17 runs later for 16, followed shortly after by Sham, who scored 29 crucial runs which would turn out to be the top score of the innings.

The two Dans, Howard and Sherman, put on 34 before Sherm fell for 7 and 13 runs later Howard went for 17.

These were crucial runs as the target inched closer – but The Road were clearly making a meal of it against the Fudge.

Oh my father ... Smalley runs to embrace Rossi
Oh my father … Smalley runs to embrace Rossi
Bat aloft ... Rossi salutes
Bat aloft … Rossi salutes

By now, with the big-hitting Shailesh at the crease, there was not far to go – just 22 runs.

But when Shailesh departed three runs short – leaving The Road with 3 wickets left – it got nervy.

With Michael Rossi striding to the crease the boys from Battersea shouldn’t have worried.

With great relief, Rossi hit the winning runs off his legs to secure an historic first LPL title for The Road.

It sparked wild celebrations as the victorious Road marked the club’s top of the table finish in style.

Oscar Newlove

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