3rd. XI v. Earlswood IV
WIN
On Saturday the Kenilworth third team opened up their Cotswold Hills League Division Six campaign in winning style with an away game at Earlswood IV.
Kenilworth won the toss and asked Earlswood to bat first, home side opening pair of Murphy and Rock looked to make a solid start for their side. Rock was bowled for 6 by the reliable Ed Smith, the home side 15 for 1, that became 21 for 2 when Murphy was caught by Joshi for 6 off the evergreen Pete Alty. Young Louis Smithson then removed Earle’s for 2 thanks to a catch from Ed Smith, the home side rocking on 26 for 3. Smithson then struck again, Earlswood 40 for 4. A stand of 30 between Smitten and Price took the home side to seventy, when Ant Kerry caught behind by Joshi for 23. That became 71 for 6 when Geoff Edmunds removed N. Smitten for 1, thanks to a catch by Ed Smith. Price and Fitzgerald then then started to rebuild their sides innings, putting on 51 for the seventh wicket, Ed Smith having Price bowled for a decent 44, another wicket for Ed Smith, and 31 not out, saw Earlswood finish on 145 for 8 from their forty overs. Wicket takers for Kenilworth were Ed Smith with 3 for 38 from nine overs, Louis Smithson with 2 for 11 from four overs, Pete Alty 1 for 13 off nine tidy overs, Geoff Edmunds 1 for 26 off nine economical overs and 1 for 26 from six overs for Ant Kerry.
Ant Kerry and James Alty opened up for their side, but lost Kerry early for 2, caught off Williams with the score on 21. Iman joined Alty, but fell without scoring, Kenilworth now 28 for 2. Ed Smith fell early for 4, Kenilworth in a spot of bother on 47 for 3, Alty needed a partner to help steady the innings, keeper Joshi was in good form, the pair took the score to 95 when Alty fell just short of a deserved fifty, falling for 47, two more wickets fell with the score on 95, Joshi for 20 and Louis Smithson with no score, Kenilworth 95 for 6, Smitten doing the damage. Knott and Hollingsworth both making 8 , but Pete Alty held his nerve, ending 21 not out, alongside Dave Knights, saw their side home on 146 for 8 in the 33rd over. Three wickets each for Smitten and Williams for Earlswood, but Kenilworth run out winners by two wickets, and start their season in fine style, collecting 17 points.
