King’s Road continued their mixed start to the London Premier League as they fell nine runs short of a competitive London Itinerants target
On a green top under variable skies, LICCs won the toss and bravely elected to bat, perhaps sensing a weakness with KRCSC down a key man – captain Matt Small.
With stand-in skipper Lewis Robinson taking the reins, Smallz – who hadn’t slept since June – turned up to witness a stellar first-up bowling performance by Mo Shaboodien (7-3-12-0) and Jamie Williams (5-0-19-1).
With regular wickets tumbling the Road were well placed at halfway, before the introduction of the LICCs secret weapon, Ravi Ogale, at 6.
Some smart shots combined with some brutal hitting – plus the odd bit of good fortune (courtesy of Shaminda De Silva) – saw Ravi quickly advance to 56 before succumbing to the bullet arm of newboy Oli Woolley.
Not even another two run-outs – surely some sort of KRCSC record? – could prevent LICCs from reaching 176 all-out in the final over.
Smallz and the lesser seen Charlie (‘Beefy’) Quarterman each left the field with 2 wickets, whilst Williams, Woolley, de Silva and Rossi all chipped in with one-a-piece.
After enjoying the LICC’s finest grub, openers Will Gledhill and de Silva trotted out to face the music.
After surviving an early LBW shout, Gledhill succumbed to the bowling of Dabb in the second over.
Williams joined De Silva at the crease and the two put on 47 before Williams, attempting to follow-up a big 4 with an even bigger 6, was caught off the bowling of off-spinner Sawh.
Two more quick wickets saw De Silva depart for 26 and Jamie Keating come and go for 8 before the Road’s 5th wicket partnership steadied the ship – Dan Long and Shaboodien working the ball around without ever looking in discomfort.
But as the overs ticked by, the required rate began to tick up before Shaboodien retired hurt after a well played 32. This brought Robinson to the crease to join Long, with 40 needed off the last 4 ½ .
In spite of some agricultural hitting, Robinson and Long were unable to pull it back and when both were dismissed in quick succession – the latter for a MoM 45 – the tail were unable to clinch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Road ended on 168-9, 9 short.
Defeat leaves the Road facing a must-win match versus the Fudge on Saturday 9th if they’re to stand any chance of getting their LPL season back on track.
Tantrum Of The Day was awarded to Chris Brown in absentia.