Kensington got off to a poor start in reply, losing both openers cheaply. Parthasarathi, at number three, looked in good nick, taking the attack to Nomads’ best bowler Thewliss, but before long he fell to a sucker punch, caught at long off the very next ball after the fielder had been put back there. Will Douglas and Matthew Marshall were then both out for ducks, and with three wickets having been taken without a run being scored, Kensington’s innings was in tatters at 71 for 6. Only a defiant slog from Tahir at number 10 saved KCC from being bowled out for less than 100. After being crushed by Nomads the year before last, and returning the favour by hammering them in last year’s game, it was our turn once again to be on the receiving end. A close game in 2007 would be a good result.

So ended a highly successful season (the traditional last match at Barnes being rained off). Lots of runs and wickets, and fun and frolics, and everyone had a most enjoyable time.

Kensington’s opening pair of San Gore and Neeraj Nayar were in for a good time, but not a long time since both had to get to the aforementioned wedding celebrations. Nayar’s stay was particularly short returning a catch in the first over. Gore was relishing his pinch-hitting role, however. Boundaries flowed left, right and centre. Having been dropped three times, San was moved to say to the fielders, “Come on guys, get me out, I have a wedding to go to!” They eventually obliged. Not to be outdone, Aaron Haynes, KCC’s second teenage debutant, picked Merrow's opening bowler up for a pitching-wedged 6 over midwicket. Though runs were being scored at a rate of knots, wickets were also tumbling. KCC 51/4. Michael Blumberg and skipper David Behar steadied the ship but at 107/7 with only 2 more wickets required for a Merrow victory KCC looked down and out. A sensible knock by Sangha and an explosive one from Sarwar took KCC to within 20 runs of victory but both fell to different generations of the Windus family. In truth, Merrow deserved their win, demonstrating their strength in depth by giving all 9 outfielders a bowl.

Tempers were running high and strong and inspirational captaincy was required to pull the team together to offer up some kind of defence of our modest total. Fortunately, the captain's job was made easy by a magnificent collective bowling performance by the Kensington attack and fair umpiring from the opposition which saw them give 5 lbw decisions. Wajid opened up with 5 accurate overs bowled at frightening pace which accounted for 2 Adhoc batsmen for 7 runs. Not to be outdone, Elias captured 2 wickets himself - one bowled with a majestic inswinger after moving a succession of balls away from the bat. Will Douglas then came on and took up where Wajid had left off beating the bat with regularity and claiming 2 wickets. The fourth prong of our seam attack, Chetan, then delivered the coup de grace with 2 wickets in successive balls. There was some lusty hitting from Ed Mann down the order but the Adhocs innings was eventually wrapped up with a sparkling Behar/Siraj combination run out (after a misfield by David). Adhocs 74 all out. Who could credit it? With the game played in excellent spirit, both teams retired to the bar to discuss what a funny old thing is this game of cricket.

To attempt to chase down this total, Sawbridgeworth knew they were relying heavily on major innings from their own star players, the two Marshall brothers. One of the pair went on to score 62, but the other managed just 15, which turned out to be Sawbridgeworth’s second highest score. With wickets falling regularly, KCC were able to cruise to a comfortable victory. This was a highly enjoyable fixture, played in excellent spirit, and we much look forward to a return fixture next season.

The Pinner reply was going well until Hussain bowled Tidy and Nayar took 2 good slip catches off the same bowler to reduce the hosts to 34/4. Opener Williams, ably supported by Murrain, then sought to take the game away from Kensington before the introduction of Ledger into the attack. Bowling a heavy ball, with good away swing, Ledger bowled Murrain, had Williams caught by Sen for a well struck 62, and bowled the next 3 batsmen in taking his first five-for in recent memory. Wajid Tahir tried his leg spin to help finish off the tail, Kensington running away with it by 65 runs, a flattering margin in the end.

So a gettable target of 184 was made to look easier than it was by a superb innings from Rohan Ghosh who scored his century at the rate of more than a run a ball and a cameo 30 in 22 balls from Tim Keleher. The great story of the innings was however not the century itself but the securing of it off the last ball. Michael Blumberg’s wicket fell with KCC needing 10 for victory and Rohan needing 7 for his century. In strode the ultimate team man, Neeraj Nayar, who unselfishly (and against his usual instincts) blocked every ball bowled at him. Avoiding any edges which may have gone for a century-wrecking 4 runs, Neeraj made sure Rohan was able to finish 4, 1, 4 to seal a wonderful century and a win for KCC.

Kensington had one eye on the clock as they began the run-chase and benefited from a sporting reprieve for Tim Keleher before he had reached double figures. Having been given out lbw the Uxbridge captain called him back, a clear thick edge missed by the umpire. Keleher took full advantage and cracked a measured ton to take Kensington to victory in 32.1 overs, Behar, Khan and Ghosh scoring at a run a ball until San Gore almost nicked Tim’s chance of a hundred as they picked off the last 20 runs together. Confident as Kensington might have been in chasing down the total, the crucial moment was surely the laudable sportsmanship from the other side. The opposition skipper was heard to comment as we left the field “Wouldn’t have called him back if we had known he was an Aussie!”

In reply, KCC didn’t begin auspiciously, with opener Gore falling for a golden duck, but Matt Marshall and James Pickles settled in well, putting on 70 for the second wicket. At tea, on 80 for 2 after 20 overs, KCC were in a worse position on paper than the home team at the same stage, but after tea Hawley’s bowlers were unable to match the quality of KCC’s match-winning bowling attack. Unmish Parthasarathi and Masters carried on where Marshall and Pickles had left off, and despite a late flurry of wickets that temporarily threatened to produce a close finish, KCC held firm and in the end cruised to a comfortable victory with seven overs to spare. After the match, as usual, Tom produced a delicious curry. Not only did the traditional raffle raise a substantial sum for Cancer Research, but a terrific day was had by all. We much look forward to next year’s return match.

Some very fine pacey swing bowling from K. May who finished with 4/35 from 12 overs made the target seem much larger than it was and none of the top 6 batsmen really got on top of the bowling despite some good starts from the Keleher brothers and Chris Ledger. It was up to John Behar to carry on from his good work with the ball to help guide us to victory with a solid 44 from 55 balls. Must also mention what was probably the best fielding performance of the year with 3 run outs, two outfield catches and one stumping.

After the 100 you may have thought Marshall had had enough but he opened the bowling for KCC and took an outstanding 1/14 from 8 consecutive overs with the new ball. Marlow had reached 97/3 at the half-way mark when the dangerous Slater was joined by KCC’s nemesis, Javed. Four overs later Slater was caught on the boundary for an aggressive 70 placing Marlow’s hopes on Javed’s shoulders. KCC had been bitten once too often by the big-hitting Pakistani and played a more savvy game, keeping him off strike and attacking the other batsmen. He lost partners at regular intervals thanks mainly to the outstanding bowling from Nayar (4/55 of 8) and Masters (3/61 off 8). When Nayar bowled Javed in the 35th the game was virtually over. In the last over Marlow Park required an unlikely 25 for victory, but they made a good fist of it losing only by 6 runs.

Only assess the conditions when both teams have batted, a cricketing sage once said, and the target was summarily dispatched with a pulverising 134 from David Behar, ably supported with 45 from Coulehan, 50 not out from Chrispin and 47 not out from John Behar. KCC knocked them off at a bowler-destroying 9.65 per over, reaching 309 for 4 in just 32 overs. Surely it’s now time for the administrators to take another look and redress the balance.

A couple of early wickets from speedster Wajid, looking remarkably like Shoaib Akhtar as he charged in from halfway to the sightscreen, gave KCC hope, but excellent batting from Tame and Webb-Martin, who both powered to fifties, took the game rapidly away from us. Apart from KCC’s man-of-the-match Wajid none of our other players really performed on the day, enabling Reigate Priory to coast to victory by seven wickets in just 35 overs. Despite our poor showing, however, a good day was had by all. Reigate were extremely convivial hosts, and the setting was gorgeous. We much look forward to the return fixture next year – when we hope to acquit ourselves better!

Despite the big total OMT’s batsmen were undaunted. Winkle played freely in his 51 and Bentall looked like taking the game away from Kensington before Unmish caught him off the bowling of Ledger, arguably the best bowler all day with 2/29 from 6 overs. Mayer continued the chase getting 39 but scoreboard pressure meant rash shots and regular wickets, OMT finishing 48 runs short at the end.

Quite an exhausting match all round and the usual bonhomie was further deflated when we discovered our changing room and subsequently one of our cars had been broken into. Mobile phones and wallets gone. Those signs about securing your valuables are there for a reason, kids.

On paper, surpassing this score shouldn’t have been a problem for KCC’s strong batting line-up. Overhead conditions were still helpful, however, and some excellent Old Redingensians bowling restricted the run chase, and soon brought the wickets of both openers. After tea, in particular, the runs dried up badly, with the usually aggressive batsmen Ledger and Hussain managing to eke out just 20 runs in 10 overs. With the initiative now conceded to Old Redingensians, and KCC batsmen one after another getting themselves out with injudicious shots whilst trying to lift the run-rate, things only improved once San Gore joined Unmish Parthasarathi at the crease. In calypso mood, San smacked a flurry of fours, briefly lifting KCC hopes, but once one extravagant shot too many brought his cameo to an end, no-one else could stick with our star batsman Unmish to see us through to the target. Requiring 32 runs from the last two overs, with just one wicket remaining to fall, KCC naturally attempted a glorious victory rather than playing out for the draw. We duly lost, of course, but no bother – an excellent day’s cricket was had by all, and we greatly look forward to next year’s return match.

A strong KCC XI, albeit 2 of them 45 minutes late (Ledger!), turned out for this mid-week fixture. KCC batting first lost an early wicket but were otherwise untroubled by the new ball. When Unmish Parthasarathi joined Neeraj the innings began to take shape as they put on 50 runs in 8 overs before lunch and continued the assault after the break (despite laden with all the good food and wine). Unfortunately, when Neeraj departed for a solid 44 the middle order batsmen were still reminiscing over their bread and butter pudding (and the rest of this outstanding lunch) and Merrow came right back into the game with 3/10 off the next 3 overs including the prized wicket of Unmish for a classy 70. Ledger and Hussain came together and restored the innings with a valuable 64 run partnership for the seventh wicket before KCC were dismissed for 261 off 52 overs. Captain Andy Windus was the pick of bowlers capturing 2/38 off 13 tight overs.

KCC began strongly with Elias picking up a couple of early wickets and when the 5th wicket went down with only 100 on the board we looked to ram home the advantage. However, a stubborn partnership began to develop for the 6th wicket. Stubbornness quickly turned into a fully fledged assault as Merrow turned the game on its head. Only a brilliant piece of fielding from Chetan (his 3rd direct-hit run out of the year) kept us in it as it ended the 102 run stand and dismissed the big hitting McGill for 47. Merrow tried to keep the run-rate up but when Brooker’s excellent 79 came to an end the chase began to slow down. We were unable to pick up the wickets, even with the outstanding bowling from Elias who took 3/43 from 14 miserly overs, and the game ended in a closely-fought, hard-earned draw.

Great Missenden started well with an opening stand of 81 between Griggs (28) and C. Nicholls (49) and even a win looked on. However, the key breakthrough from Jon Pickles, fizzing it around like Max Walker of old, opened the floodgates. Enter Donnie Masters with a devastating spell of left-arm seam and swing, taking 7/22 in 10 overs and giving KCC the win right at the death by 84 runs.

A fine game of cricket and a great barbecue to crown it.

Neeraj Nayar and Rohan Ghosh started well but Neeraj soon fell, leg before 6 yards down the wicket! Unmish Parthasarathi took the game to RHCC and at one point seemed that he and Rohan would win us the game, until Rohan was given lbw to a ball that kept low. Brendan Ryan unleashed from the moment he got in and played some delightful shots to top score with 39. Wickets then fell frequently. Only Elias was able to steady the ship with some beautifully timed shots and he was voted KCC Man of The Match by the opposition captain Peter Wilson. We were all out for 147.

It was a very sociable fixture which was enjoyed by all, including San Gore who umpired for both the innings. David Skirron bought two bottles of port to celebrate his 100. The curry dinner was sadly missed as it was not ordered this year due to a local function (which as it turned out was subsequently cancelled); it was agreed to reinstate the curry occasion for next year.

The Banstead innings started apace, Chetan Singh’s first 4 balls all going to the boundary. The second over fared little better, centurion Sekantane was dropped behind before he got going. After that it was one-way traffic, Sekantane pelting the Kensington attack to all parts, the fielders struggling to cut off the boundaries. The target was made to look 50 runs short by the time Sekantane was finally out for 116, Burns and Fowler each helping themselves to half centuries.

Despite the thrashing we had an excellent day at this fine ground and look forward to beating Banstead next time around.

Our bowling was going to have to be searching and accurate, which it duly was with fine opening spells from Elias Hussain and Sajid Mahmood.
It is not often that a KCC captain can set a field without a fine leg, but this shows the discipline with which the bowlers as a unit performed. Elias got the first breakthrough and from then on wickets came with some regularity, mainly due to great fielding (a well taken run out from Pickles/Mahmood) and some great catching, not least from Donnie Masters at first slip who took 4 catches (look out Neeraj!). Ed Richards and Sajid Mahmood were the pick of the bowlers although everyone chipped in and it was good to see Farrukh Hasan and Mark Jefferson back to their old ways.

An early finish meant we could enjoy the hospitality of our hosts sooner and the usual beer, BBQ and golf (we lost) were, as always, greatly appreciated. One last mention, WGP were without their batting stalwart Dean Allen-Turner this year due to injury. Hopefully, Dean will be back next year , but in the meantime he is still apparently scoring centuries. Are you meant to do that in golf, Deano?

There were plenty of contributions all the way down the order, most notably Jamie Keleher’s swashbuckling 51 off 37, Blumberg’s steadying 47 (off a lot more) and Brett Hatfield’s controlled 34, that enabled Kensington to knock off the runs with 4 wickets and 5 overs to spare. Only Down (2/33) and Shahan (2/21) were able to trouble the batsmen.

Nevertheless, we fancied our chances to chase down 200, but at 8/2 with both openers, David Behar and Neeraj Nayar, back in the pavilion, the deja vous feelings re-surfaced! Hatfield, Ledger and Mantha all made starts but the Williams brothers and Lewin bowled accurately and forced mistakes. Suddenly, we were 97/7. Elias Hussain and Jason Moores struck some lusty blows and put on 59 to give us a sniff of a win. But the innings folded dramatically with the last 3 wickets falling for no runs.

Anyhow, we enjoyed the day. At least we were not subjected to as fearful a hiding as was meted out by their Under 16s team to an Essex side on the adjacent field (280/2 in a 40 over game and 97/10). We continue to marvel at how well coaches David Reynolds and Grahame Smith have helped to develop the younger generation.

KCC fielded 4 new comers and we also saw the return of the great Vinoo Nath,who unfortunately did not get to bat but was brought in 1st change. His tempting deliveries duly caused the opposition batsmen to take the bait and his figures 3 overs 1 maiden 15 runs and 2 wickets (including a rare caught & bowled...notice how he doesn't drop his own catches!), were well deserved. Ed Loneragan and fellow debutant Ben Quinn provided some fine bowling. Ed was particularly miserly on such a tough wicket in which to contain batsmen and although more expensive Ben captured the wicket of the opposition’s top batsman, Siddiqui, whose explosive 94 looked like giving his team a successful run chase. As it was, Chris Ledger took the catch to dismiss him. Although the other top order batsmen, notably Goozee and Hume, made good scores a vintage bowling performance from a rejuvenated Ledger with figures of 6 - 2 - 24 - 4 meant that KCC kept the upper hand and, while unable to seal the win, meant we finished with a strong draw.

The ‘home’ team eventually arrived (nearly 1 hour late) and wasted no time in taking their time to get geared up and ready to play. It was obviously a ploy that worked as Deutsche raced away putting on 51 off only 9 overs with Morgan doing all the damage. The introduction of spin stemmed the flow somewhat and when the excellent Saurav Sen (2/36 off 8) had Morgan (51) stumped by San we had clawed our way back. Some fantastic middle innings bowling and fielding put us in the ascendancy and at 190/6 with 6 overs left Deutsche looked to have squandered a great start. But with ‘a passion to perform’, some superb late-order hitting from Khanna (35 off 19) put Deutsche back on top to reach 255/8 off their 40.

We began the chase brightly and were up with the run-rate when Coulehan was caught behind for 29. The Keleher brothers then batted sensibly putting on 103 for the second wicket before Jamie got caught on the boundary for 60. At 154/2 and still 14 overs remaining KCC were in the box seat, but when Tim Keleher fell shortly after for 56, adjudged LBW to spinner Godbole, it signalled the end for Kensington. The last six wickets disappeared dramatically in the fading light for a mere 20 runs in just five overs! KCC out for a disappointing 225 with Sikka and Godbole doing all the damage.

In the end Deutsche had too many weapons for the KCC side and in typical fashion left the ground without having a beer, Manoj excepted.

264 felt like a winning score for KCC but it wasn’t to be. Having arrived a player short, ably filled in by young Khuram from C&R’s ranks, Kensington had to field with 10 men after Jai Singh was needed at home. With at least 5 players gravitating towards the slip/gully area the problem was clear: not much pace in the field. None of which detracts from Grimsdale’s fine unbeaten 128. He patiently picked off the bad ball for 16 boundaries, putting on 152 for the 2nd wicket with Burgess who fell to a fine catch from Keay off Mitra’s leg-spin for 66. Hirsh accompanied Grimsdale home with 3 overs remaining and KCC, ragged in the field, were well beaten.

The KCC skipper, good club man that he is, was pleased to hear in the bar that the other Kensington side playing that day had lost fractionally earlier than his, thus avoiding the shame of breaking the 12 game winning streak.

However, a mid-match lunch seemed to take the edge off KCC's opening bowlers, and Arcadians had posted 94 runs before the first wicket fell, Wajid eventually getting an Arcadian guest for 70. Rakid and captain Walker added another 50 runs before a mini collapse with a wicket apiece for Pickles junior, Behar senior and guest Matthew Wortman. However, in the closing overs, Medagoda smashed the bowling to all parts with the captain overbowling his part-timers and Arcadians cruised to victory in just over 40 overs. Still, a nice trip to Belgium next season will take some of the sting out of this defeat!

KCC began their chase disastrously losing both openers for just 13 in 6 overs. Skipper Jamie Keleher got the innings back on track with a hard-hitting 70 off just 58 balls but failed to receive any support. KCC looked in all sorts of bother at 136/7. After terrorising the opposition with his pace Wajid showed he is no one-trick pony with a lusty 36 to take KCC to within sniffing distance. When he fell however, KCC still needed 10 to win with 2 wickets remaining. Cool heads were needed and there are none cooler than Elias as he nonchalantly hit 7 off 5 balls to finish the game off.

An excellent game played at a lovely ground for players and spectators alike.

Qasim started like a train (but without the running), stroking six fours and a six in his 32 in just 31 balls. His departure, however, signalled a sorry collapse as the Kensington innings got completely derailed. From 42/1 we plunged to 84/7 partly from some excellent catching, but mainly through poor shot selection. James Pickles, at the other end from the start, shook his head in disbelief, put his head down and manfully tried to retrieve what appeared to be hopeless position. He battled to an elegant fifty finding good support first from Tabrez and later Chetan, but was out 9 balls from safety. Chetan played out the last over untroubled.

KCC had no trouble knocking off the runs with 10 overs to spare. David Behar and James Pickles put on 75 for the first wicket and Mohammed Gulistan and Elias almost saw us home, Guli being out with 4 runs remaining. With victory in the day’s other game, Kensington had now won the first eleven fixtures of the season!

KCC’s reply began poorly, with the first three wickets falling for just 18 runs. Tight opening bowling from Iswariah and Richard Tilley made run-scoring a struggle, but after tea, with lesser bowlers brought into the attack, Coulehan and Ledger began to open up. When the latter was out caught, Keay entered the fray and proceeded to dispatch the bowling to all parts, ably supported by Coulehan. The run-rate continued to escalate, despite the loss of a couple of wickets, and Keay’s excellent shotmaking saw KCC through to a resounding victory in the 40th over. With victory in the day’s other game, Kensington had now won the first eleven fixtures of the season!

Thanks to accurate bowling from Elias and Chetan, Barnes managed to match KCC’s early innings sluggishness and were unable to accelerate when required, falling further and further behind as the innings progressed. Some late hitting from Benfield (37) was not enough as Barnes limped to 158/8 off their 40 overs.

Another fixture at this delightful country ground saw KCC win the toss and put the opposition in to bat. Asa and Tabrez opened the attack for KCC and soon had the openers back in the pavilion with 24 on the board. Then the off spin duo of Behar Sr. and Sen accounted for Nos. 3 and 4, a beautiful caught and bowled by Sen. Russule proved more persistent putting on a blistering 51 before stepping down the wicket once too often to Behar, stumped. Brendan Ryan then turned in one of the performances of his career, five overs and three wickets at the expense of only nine runs, come on you Aussies. That left O&G’s heading back at the changeover with 168 on the board, so something to play for.

Hatfield and Behar Jr, a duo not known for ponderousness, opened the batting for KCC. Alas, not one of Brett’s more successful days at the crease, caught by Russule off Thomas for 3. Behar Jr. ploughed on to a creditable 25 before being caught behind, making way for our grade cricketer par excellence, Tim Keleher, who, assisted serially by Mantha (14) and Gore (33) chiselled out the cornerstone of the innings with a solid 70, at which point he was stumped by Heywood. This left Tabrez and Saurav, both of whom had made substantial contributions with the ball, to see the innings through to a win scoring two and four consecutively. A case of Cobra materialises and the real games begin. Roll on next year!

In last year’s game Cheshunt had successfully chased a total of 231 in just 37 overs, and with pretty much the same batting line-up this year, the target was certainly on. An inspired opening spell of bowling from Tabrez Khan, however, ably supported by fellow bowlers Johnson and Ryan in particular, brought KCC a flurry of well-deserved wickets. After 25 overs, 8 wickets had fallen for just 84 runs, and Cheshunt’s run-chase was as good as over. Kevin Grant, who scored a swashbuckling century against us last year, helped Cheshunt to a respectable total with an untroubled innings of 83, but with no other Cheshunt batsman scoring more than 16, his effort was always going to be in vain. With victory both here and in the other day’s game at Cambridge, a confident KCC had won the first 7 games of the season, a new club record. Could the run of wins continue?

Gore and Qasim Abbas were watchful against some good swing bowling from Paul and pace from Hannah, Abbas reeling off a few classy shots before mistiming one into the air. Not too much can be said about Kensington’s middle order, capitulating to a series of poor shots against accurate medium pace, particularly from Viraj and Milhan, but Wajid Dar, supported later by Mehmood in a 7th wicket partnership worth 75, carried the innings. Wajid cracked the ball to all parts with controlled shots and an eye on the run-rate but, when Mehmood was out for a rapid 42 with 35 still wanted, the game looked lost. Dar kept going and when he was joined for the last wicket by Amar only 5 more were needed from the last 8 balls. Amar clipped his first ball for 2 and blocked the next one to leave Dar on strike. In the chilly gloom he smashed the 2nd ball of the last over for 4 to seal an unlikely victory.

We all had a good time in the bar, justifying our parts in a victory that was all down to Wajid and Sajid, and nodding sagely at various PHD descriptions.

Elias and Chetan imposed themselves from the start with disciplined, testing, spells of controlled swing. The pressure grew on the opening batsmen and, sure enough, the edge came for Elias (caught by John Behar at second slip..just), at which point Balliol had managed to nudge the total up to around the 20 mark after 12 overs. The spinners then arrived at either end and the no.2 bat swiftly fell attempting to pull Saurav's intelligent offie (caught by John...reasonably comfortably). Shortly thereafter John bowled the no.4 and no. 5 in fairly swift succession. David Behar briefly graced us with a couple of overs of not intolerable leggies which yielded a further wicket (caught by John at second slip with relative ease). The spinners then made way for the pace and chirpy determination of Tabrez accompanied by the diabolic wobblers of Hassan Farooq. Tabrez soon took a dramatic and extremely well-held diving catch off his own bowling to secure his contribution to the haul, whilst Farooq entangled the no.8 to win a well-earned LBW decision. With two batsmen remaining and the thought of a hearty tea at the forefront of our minds the spinners returned to make short work of nos. 5 & 10, one more apiece for Behar and Sen. All out for 116.

Blumberg opened with Farooq who managed a respectable 24 - not bad considering he’d come off the red eye from NY earlier in the day. Blumberg remained, not scoring freely, in fact...not scoring at all as Sunil Amar at no.3 survived 4 balls prior to falling LBW to Soutphomasane (known as Tim P). In strolls David Behar and takes up his cudgel, with Blumberg stoutly resisting any indecently hasty pursuit of the required total, facing 87 balls for his 17! Kensington made 120 in 28 overs and a fair game was enjoyed by all, David and Michael holding their bats to the close.

As is the club tradition much Cobra beer and bonhomie followed amongst the 22.

Maidenhead & Bray’s reply began slowly, restricted in particular by a fine opening spell of bowling from Matthew Marshall, who took the first three wickets to fall. From 31 for 3 the chase was always going to be difficult, and from here on in wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Opener Arjan stuck around for 30 overs, anchoring the innings with a dogged 75, but without any big-hitters lasting for long at the other end, KCC’s total never looked in any danger of being caught. Maidenhead & Bray at least played out the full 40 overs, losing their last wicket to the very last ball, but KCC romped to victory by 35 runs.

After the rest of KCC’s batting line-up all pitched in with a good few runs each, racking up an intimidating total of 261, Menorca began their chase well. The openers put on a stand of 75, before Neeraj took the big wicket of the home side’s best all-round player, Chris Phillips, for 53. Menorca then struggled to make headway for the next ten overs or so, losing a couple more wickets, before Mike Morris and Kenny Johnson at numbers 4 and 5 p