1st. XI v. Four Oaks Saints
LOSE
The First XI travelled to Four Oaks Saints on Saturday 7th. September in their penultimate Warwickshire County Cricket League Division 1 fixture of the season and despite losing the match and being bowled out with 8 balls left, increased their chances of survival in the Division by picking up more points than the bottom two placed sides with their future decided in next weekend’s League finale when they play fellow relegation contenders Kings Heath.
On winning the toss, Four Oaks Saints opted to bat first and after being 27-2, Van Dyk 61 and Hipkiss 30 shared in a solid partnership before Zaman with 50 not out helped the side to reach 210-9 despite a solid bowling and fielding performance by the Kenilworth side. Charlie Stranks span his way to 3-43 from his 12 overs, whilst openers Sunny Ahmed took 2-43 from his 12 and Matt Casey 1-28 from 6 overs. Connor Shingler chipped in with 1-48 from his 12 overs and there was a wicket for occasional bowler and skipper, Pete Magafas as he took 1-36 with a run out accounting for the other wicket to fall.
In reply, the Kenilworth innings could not have got off to a worse start as they lost 2 wickets in the first over, leaving them on 6-2. However, Magafas remained firm and with the fit again Dave Edmunds remained together until the 21st. over as the pair put on 88 together for the third wicket. Magafas made 53, hitting 7 boundaries whilst Edmunds posted 42 hitting a six and 5 x 4 in his knock. Ahmed then chipped in 23 (3 x 4) and Jono Sparks, at number 9, hit 24 (4 x 4) but after he was out the tail fell away and from being 159-7 with 4 overs of the match left the side were unable to hang on and were bowled out for 163 with only 8 balls left to face as Khatkar 4-29, Hasan 3-45 and Zaman 2-28 took the Four Oaks bowling plaudits and gain the side a 47 run win.
However, Kenilworth picked up 6 crucial points to take them to 174 points to consolidate their 10th. placed position and give them further breathing space with a 22 point buffer between them and Kings Heath on 152 points and Water Orton on 151 points as the drop looms in next week’s final matches of League season where a maximum of 24 points can be gained.
Most fittingly, in the circumstances, the League places go to the wire and it will be a relegation decider as the side host Kings Heath who need the win to survive and leapfrog Kenilworth whilst they just need to avoid defeat or to pick up 3 points.
https://www.warcricket.org/wcl2018/tables.php
Next week’s game – Kenilworth v. Kings Heath. The Relegation Survival decider in the FINAL LEAGUE MATCH of the season.
Let’s roar the side on and see them perform. Show your support.
Be there next week!! 12 noon start at home.
