King’s Road slumped to a nine-wicket defeat against Kew CC in the second of their weekend double-headers.

Having thrashed Centurions CC the day before, the Orange Caps were this time on the receiving end of a beating.

Fielding only 10 players, the match on Kew’s picturesque ground in west London was reduced to 30 overs after a late start due to rain.

Having won the toss, captain James Couldrey won the toss was forced to bat as his team had not arrived on time.

Raju Mazumder, who posted a career best score of 32 the day before, started cautiously with in-form run machine Sham de Silva.

The pair crept to 47 with Raju taking most of the strike before Kew bowler Burnfitt struck three times in one maiden over.

First Sham fell, caught at mid-off for a run-a-ball 22, then Raju, also caught at mid-off, for a more conservative 8 off 47, and then straight after Chris MacNicol was stumped for a golden duck.

From 47 for none, The Road were now reeling with three down.

Matt Cocken tried to steady the ship but at the other end the wickets continued to tumble.

Sam Liptrott and Sam Bilson, both making their debut, both went for identical scores of 2 off 13 as the score edged up to 78.

Matt Small contributed 14 then got bowled as The Road limped to 100 and then Matt C was run out attempting a quick single for 20.

That brought club stalwart Dan Howard, back from three years in China, to the crease right at the end of the innings before James was also run out.

Captain James was run out for a duck on the final ball of innings as he and Dan H tried to steal a bye.

King’s Road closed on 107 for 8 – and it would take a superhuman effort to skittle Kew out and seal a second win of the weekend.

But it was not to be.

Sam L opened bowling with Matt S and created a few lbw chances and edges but the pair could not make the breakthrough.

Matt C and James bowled tight. But apart from Matt C bowling Kew opener Ferdinand for 39 with the score on 65 there was nothing to cheer about.

Kew knocked the runs off in 22.3 overs leaving both teams time to retire to the pub.

Matt C posted figures of 1 for 14 off 4, and Matt S conceded only 16 in his 5 overs. But overall it was nowhere near enough.