Sunday XI v. Berkswell
WINNING DRAW
On Sunday the 9th of June, Kenilworth made the short journey to play Berkswell for their latest Arden Sunday Cricket League Division Three fixture and left with a winning draw, the highlights being young George Baines hitting his maiden century in Senior cricket following his recent good form with the bat and a fine 5-18 with the ball from Charlie Stranks.
Visiting skipper Dan Horner win the toss and elected to bat first, it was Horner and Matt Casey who were to face the new ball, both batters were soon in the runs, putting any loose bowling away, quickly they raised a stand of 45 for first wicket in the seventh over, when Casey was caught behind for 25. His wicket bought Jono Sparks to the crease, but he only made 3, when A. Miles bowled him, Kenilworth 50 for 2 in the eighth over. His wicket saw the inform George Baines join Horner, soon Baines was in full flow with an array of straight and cover drives. The pair quickly added 33 together when Horner was caught and bowled by Sarfraz for a solid 39, Kenilworth 83 for 3. James Adamson was next man in, he too was finding the boundary early on, but was dismissed for a breezy 20, Kenilworth passing a hundred along the way, he and and Baines adding 53 together, 138 for 4, soon after Charlie Stranks joined Baines, Baines bought up a fine half century, Stranks too joined in the boundary hitting, the pair going on to post an 84 run partnership in only twelve overs, when Stranks was out for an aggressive 38, the visitors were 222 for 5. Dyas on debut was next in, again looking to get the scoreboard moving, clearing the mid wicket boundary for a big six, then still going at better than a run a ball, Baines bought up a quite brilliant maiden senior century, before being caught behind in the 39th over, trying an audacious scoop shot, out to A. Milnes for 110 (13 x 4), Matthew Dadswell joined Dyer, he got off the mark first ball with a crisp four through mid off, Dyer finished 18 not out on debut and Dadswell 6 not out, Kenilworth making an impressive 280 for 7 from their forty overs. For Berkswell, A. Milne took 3 for 60 from 8 overs, as the players headed for tea.
Amir and Sarfraz opened the innings for Berkswell, made steady progress against the Kenilworth opening attack of Matthew Dadswell and Kieran Umashanker, the openers posting a fifry run opening stand in the tenth over, Casey replaced Umashanker and Chris Beach replaced Dadswell, neither bowler could make the breakthrough Kenilworth badly needed, Amir and Sarfraz were starting to look imposing, the pair bringing up their hundred run partnership in the 18th over, but with the score on 124, Amir was run out after a smart piece of Fielding by James Adamson, Amir out for a fine 66, Wreford then joined Sarfraz, he too looking to be positive, but was caught by Dan Horner off Charlie Stranks for 12, Berkswell well placed on 163 for 2, but Berkswell then lost three wickets with the score on 179, two to the spin of Charlie Stranks, two lbw decisions , but the big wicket of Sarfraz, bowled by Jono Sparks for a quality innings of 80, this left the home side in a bit of trouble on 179 for 5. Two more wickets for Charlie Stranks, now Berkswell were in deep trouble on 180 for 7, and five wickets for Stranks, 5 for 18 from eight impressive overs. When Turner was run out by Jono Sparks and Matt Casey had A. Milnes caught by Charlie Stranks, the home side were on the brink on 198 for 9, three overs remained, could Kenilworth take the last wicket for a deserved maximum points, but ten and eleven saw their side to a draw, ending on 203 for 9 after forty overs. Along with the Stranks five wickets, a wicket each for Jono Sparks and Matt Casey there were two run outs, Kenilworth taking 18 points for the winning draw, on a memorable day for George Baines with a brilliant maiden hundred and Charlie Stranks with a fine all round game, starred.
KCC 280-7 (18 points), Berkswell 203-9 (9 points).
George Baines 110 with the bat for Kenilworth. Charlie Stranks 5-18 with the ball.
