KING'S ROAD CRICKET AND SOCIAL CLUB

Road’s LPL title challenge melts away in the heat of key Wandsworth Common battle

Cairns Fudge enjoyed the sweet taste of  success in the London Premier League as King’s Road melted in the heat at Wandsworth Common.

The Fudge won the toss and surprisingly opted to field under the blazing sun and the Orange Caps made steady progress, with openers Lomas Persad and Chris MacNicol at the crease.

Lomas, in one of his final appearances for the Road, hit a couple of sweetly struck 4s before being caught for 12 off Kartik, with the score on 30.

But as one of KRCSC’s batting superstars left the crease, his place was taken by another – Jamie Williams – who promptly smashed his first ball for 6.

He followed this up with another boundary, this time a 4, before he was caught off the bowling of Zak.

Things got worse as 41-2 became 42-3 as Kartik claimed his second, C Mac caught for 3.

David Hughes and Dan Sherman steadied the ship, seeing off the remaining overs from the opening bowlers’ first spells.

Welsh biffer Hughes was in defensive mode, deploying both the leave and the play and miss to good effect, leaving the middle of his bat largely unused.

Sherman hit a pair of boundaries on his way to 9 before he fell victim to the pace and bounce of Griff, who also hit Hughes on the shoulder as he played a bit of chin music.

Again wickets fell quickly, with 53-4 becoming 53-5 as Hughes, whose 2 runs had both come off the glove, finally managed to hit the ball with his bat only for the edge to be caught in the gully.

Raju Mazumder and James Couldrey put on 15 before Griff struck again, Couldrey the victim caught for 6.

The very next ball accounted for Jamie Keating, who could do little about a sharp delivery that bounced off a length, caught the edge and was safely pouched by the keeper for a golden duck.

Mazumder, sporting an Elvis-style quiff, thought “It’s Now or Never” and together with big-hitting Mo Shaboodien the pair added 42 for the 8th wicket.

The pair took the Road beyond the 100-run mark, securing a bonus point, before Mazumder fell for 8, caught behind off Sheridan.

raju
‘It’s now or never’ … Raju thought
Boom ... Mo top scored
Boom … Mo top scored

The Big Mo, who had been tucking into the Fudge’s bowling like a kid in a sweet shop, was then trapped LBW for 29 off Naidoo with Couldrey raising the finger of doom.

Couldrey’s finger also pointed the way for Amir Alipour who fell to Naidoo for a golden duck, leaving the Road all out for a modest 110.

With such a low total to defend, early wickets were crucial and they duly arrived. Mo struck in his first over, finding the edge for John to be caught by Sherman for 2.

The next over saw Williams clean up the other opener, also for 2, as he embarked on an unplayable spell which involved three consecutive maidens.

With the score on 7-2, Williams on fire and Mo providing excellent support, the Road’s low total suddenly looked a lot more challenging.

But a third wicket partnership of 35 helped ease the Fudge’s nerves before the Orange Caps’ spinners struck.

First Dean hit a Michael Rossi delivery straight to Hughes at point for 11, before Marcos – who had smashed a huge 6 on his way to 19 – was snared LBW by Persad.

At 42-4 the Road still hoped for an unlikely victory and when Williams returned to the attack and claimed the wicket of Andy Sheridan, sharply caught at slip by Persad for 1 to make the score 57-5 the Orange Caps could be forgiven for thinking the hard work had been done.

But a brutal assault by Griff and Mike took Cairns Fudge to the brink of victory.

Griff added to his 3 wickets by smashing a series of 4s on his way to 33, the onslaught finally ended by Keating’s spin and a fine bit of glovework by Sherman to take the catch.

With the score on 94-6 Cairns Fudge were on the verge of victory – and the LPL title – and Mike ensured there were no further alarms, finishing with 34 not out as the win was wrapped up in the 25th over.

Oscar Newlove

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One response to “Road’s LPL title challenge melts away in the heat of key Wandsworth Common battle”

  1. Raju Mazumder Avatar
    Raju Mazumder

    I have to question the accuracy of this match report. If anything I was without my beloved quiff on Saturday.