The Road’s early season batting frailties were once again exposed as they experienced a heavy defeat to Tilford CC.

KRCSC travelled to deepest Surrey filled with confidence from a London Premier League win the day before, but were brought back down to earth as the home side cruised to a 6 wicket victory.

Captain Mark Isham lost his third toss in a row, and The Road were inserted on a flat pitch with short boundaries, where a par score was considered to be in excess of 200.

Things started slowly, with Raju Mazumder and Jon Malsingh opening, the latter surrendering his wicket when the score was at 12.

The man they call Mally tried to push the score along and was caught in the covers by Wilson, who had dropped a similar chance off Raju the ball before.

Matt Cocken soon followed holing out at long-on for 5, and, just as he was looking set to make a big score, Raju was dismissed for 15. The Road were 41 for 3.

With Dan Sherman and Moin Kahn at the crease, King’s Road started to regain confidence, and the score began to motor along.

This confidence proved to be misplaced, as Moin was caught out going for one big shot too many, having scored an exciting 22 off 19 balls.

A few balls later Sherm was bowled by a ball that moved away from him, and the collapse began.

Mark was out lbw for 1, Jamie Keating caught for the same score, and Tom Parnell and Dan Howard both caught at backward point.

Only Elliott Small put up any kind of a fight, but when he was bowled for 8, it ended The Road’s innings. They had gone from 77 for 4 to 93 all out.

If they were going to win, the Orange Caps had to bowl and field well, and with Matt Small and KRCSC’s all-time leading wicket taker Jamie opening the bowling, Isham had every reason to be confident.

In fact, Smally made an immediate impact as he coaxed M Beard into mistiming the very first ball of the innings high into the air, where IMark gratefully snapped it up in the covers.

After the first over Tilford were 0 for 1. Did the King’s Road dare to dream?

Tilford’s number three, Blackburn, showed aggressive intent, including hitting an over-pitched Smally delivery over the long-off boundary for six.

But his brief cameo was ended as he attempted to force a drive through the covers.

He didn’t bank on Fielder of the Year 2013, Mark, who took a low one-handed catch diving at full stretch to his right.

Soon after, Smally took his third wicket, Bussell, bowled leg-stump, beaten by the pace.

At the other end, Jamie had been keeping it tight, and he got the wicket he deserved, bowling Beard with a quicker, flatter delivery.

With Tilford 4 wickets down and still requiring 60 to win, the home fans on the sidelines were starting to look worried.

They needn’t have been.

The final wicket brought Austin to the crease, who had scored a century in 41 balls in a previous match.

Batting with a Mongoose, Austin proceeded to dispatch King’s Road bowlers to all parts of the ground, smashing his way to a quickfire 49, with five 4s and four 6s.

That innings sealed the victory for Tilford, leaving Isham with lots to ponder.

For the second time this season his team has shown worrying fragility when batting first.

It is an area the squad must address if they are to successfully retain the LPL title.

With the match concluded, all that remained was to decide the ancillary awards.

Man of the match: Matt Small

Champagne Moment: Mark for his one-handed catch

Most Embarrassing Moment: Mark for his statement in the pub before the game: “The most annoying thing about being an amazing fielder, is that you never get to see yourself”

Nice ground, ugly cricket. pic.twitter.com/XuoHjm1Crv

— King's Road Cricket & Social Club (@KRCSC) May 11, 2014

@KRCSC How he plays i do not know #keatingout #amirin

— Jack Clements (@JacktheGreek_) May 11, 2014

93 all out. Oh dear.

— King's Road Cricket & Social Club (@KRCSC) May 11, 2014