2nd. XI v. Knowle & Dorridge IV
WIN
On Saturday 6th July, Kenilworth’s 2nd. XI team hosted Knowle and Dorridge 4ths in their win/lose Warwickshire County Cricket League Division Eight fixture and it turned out to be an entertaining and close match with the game in the balance for most of the day for both sides. Yet, in the end it was Kenilworth who held their nerves to seal the win with a fine team performance as the visitors lost their last 6 wickets for only 9 runs and were bowled out 25 runs short of their target.
After a delayed start due to rain, the game was reduced to forty five overs per side. Visitors Knowle and Dorridge won the toss and asked Kenilworth to bat first, Openers Mark Stranks and Henry Curran were looking to make up a strong start for their side, both batsmen were in dominant form against the visitors bowling, soon the runs were flowing off both players bats, the visitors were unable to make an early breakthrough, Stranks and Curran passed an opening stand of fifty, then passed a hundred, Curran now passed fifty himself, soon after Stranks bought up yet another half century, when the pair had added one hundred and fifty together in the 30th over, Mark Stranks was bowled by Ali for a very decent innings of 66, his innings containing seven fours. Nathan Chant replaced Stranks, but was caught off the bowling of Khan for 6, the home side now 161 for 2 in the 34th over, this became 162 for 3 in the next over when Ben Maney was bowled by Ali without score, Curran though continued to go on passing seventy and eighty. Jack Howard added a quick 15 with Curran, before he was caught off Howiz, Kenilworth 195 for 4 in the 41st over. Charlie Stranks now along with Curran pushed the score past 200, and with the score on 214, Curran was caught off Khan for a brilliant 97, hitting ten fours , falling just short of a deserved century, Charlie Stranks ended 21 not out and Joey Poole 1 not out, as Kenilworth closed their innings on a decent 234 for 5 from their forty five overs. The pick of 5th the visitors bowling was Ali with 2 for 42 from nine overs.
After the tea interval, the Knowle and Dorridge openers looked to make a strong start in their reply, Shingadia and Reybould made a good start, the home side unable to make the early breakthrough they were searching for, the visitors opening pair put on fifty together, as both sides made strong starts, K & D too passed a hundred for the first wicket, until Shingadia was bowled by Charlie Stranks for a fine 66 in the 25th over, Knowle 105 for 1. Iqbal was next man in, he too looked in good touch, the game well and truly set up for a good run chase, Iqbal was then dismissed, again by Charlie Stranks via a catch from Nathan Chant, Iqbal making 31, the visitors 162 for 2 in the 32nd over. Soon after Reybould fell, caught by Charlie Stranks off Jack Howard for a solid 54, Knowle now 177 for 3 in the 35th over. Iyer was bowled by Joey Poole for a quick 23, the visitors now 200 for 4 in the 38th over, a tense finish on the cards, Rice was the next man out, caught by Charlie Stranks off Jack Howard for 10, now 202 for 5 in the 39th over, two wickets fell in the 41st over as Najeeb was bowled by Sam Leach for 4, and in the same over Leach had Hussain caught by Mark Stranks for 5, Knowle now 208 for 7, a wicket for Jack Howard in the 42nd over Hafeez bowled without score, 209 for 8. In the next over, the 43rd, Sam Leach stole the win for Kenilworth, having Ali caught without score and taking the last wicket, Khan caught by Chris Beech, also without score, Knowle and Dorridge all out for 209 in the 43rd over, Kenilworth winning a dramatic game by 25 runs. Sam Leach with a fine 4 for 22 off 7.2 overs, Jack Howard 3 for 48 from 9 overs, Charlie Stranks 2 for 43 from 7 overs and a wicket for Joey Poole, 1 for 32 off 9 overs the wicket takers for Kenilworth.
Kenilworth take the full 20 points for their fine efforts.
