KEMPTON CRICKET CLUB MATCH REPORT

DATE :                                      11th JUNE 2011.

TEAM                                       3rd XI

OPPONENTS                          WALTON

TYPE OF MATCH                   LEAGUE

VENUE                                     HERSHAM 

RESULT                                   ABANDONED

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................          

Unbeaten Kempton visited Walton on the 6th weekend of the league season, looking for an improved performance from their previous game at Streatham. Unfortunately, another toss was lost and home skipper Sam Saidman had no hesitation in bowling first on a damp, soft wicket.  

Kempton openers David Maidment and Tom Bovington got their team off to a steady start, as the wicket and lush outfield meant runs were difficult to score. The Walton opening bowling pair of De Jesus and Bartlett settled into an accurate spell straight away, finding a hint of late swing and using the damp pitch well. The breakthrough was made in the 11 over when Bov was caught at midwicket and was quickly followed back by Bob the Coke, both falling to the excellent De Jesus. This bought K's skipper Si Arscott to the wicket to try and steady the ship. Unfortunately, two further wickets fell shortly after when Dave Maidment skied a catch to point and then Trevor padded up to his first ball, leaving the away team reeling on 37-4 in the 18. Youngster Luke Neville came in at 6, but fell to a good in swinger from Desai to leave Kempton on 47-5 at the drinks break.

Martin Sherwood was the next man in, and despite seeing off the opening bowler De Jesus, found it difficult to time the ball on the damp wicket. His patience ran out on 2, and was caught off young left arm spinner Richards to bring Jon 'I'm an allrounder' Bateson to the wicket. Bateson used a couple of balls to get his eye in before using the long handle to good effect with a couple of lusty blows off the spinners. Jon and his skipper took the score closer to the hundred mark with a partnership of 28, before Jon became yet another batsman to sky a catch, this time off the returning Bartlett's second ball. Next in was 'overseas' star Wayne Morgan to a flurry of swings as he sent the score past the hundred mark. Some good running and unorthodox shots started to build another useful partnership before Biggy found too much height, and not enough distance, to be superbly caught by Minns over his shoulder at wide mid-on. Nick Peters followed him back quickly when Rooney nipped one back through the gate to leave Kempton 9 down. The innings ended soon after when the Kempton skipper slapped a ball to midwicket on 39, after anchoring the innings to a score of 122. Although too few of the Kempton batsman applied themselves to bat on a difficult wicket, credit must go to the Walton bowlers who used the favourable conditions superbly. They were also brilliantly supported in the field, with some superb catches and ground fielding.

Kempton went out to field knowing that only a procession of early wickets could get them back into the match. Veterans Trevor and David took the old ball in a bid to strangle the runs and try to get quick wickets. Opener Evans decided to try and take the slow outfield out of the equation by going aerial almost immediately. He hit a number of fours over and through the infield, to the frustration of the senior bowlers. His opening partner didn't find it so easy to score, and struggled until being stumped to a quick bit of work by Cokey off Trevor. The second wicket quickly followed when Cokey again showed some form of agility to catch his verbal-sparring partner Evans off Maidment. At 37-2, the away side were firmly in the match only to see the heavens open and the game abandoned 16 over's into the Walton reply. Both sides took only a point from a match that they both had a sniff of winning.

Kempton host Pyrford next week looking to get their promotion charge back on track without their skipper. Hopefully the batsman can step up to the plate and help deliver a valuable 13 points; So don't f*@k it up Trev!