Ben Clarke’s big hitting brings the 2nds victory in the final over
Saturday 23rd. April
The two Kenilworth sides had mixed results in their Warwickshire League double header against Nether Whitacre, with the 1sts losing away whilst the 2nds won in a nail biter of a match at home with one ball to spare as a 6 and a 4 brought them the win in the final over.
1st XI
Kenilworth v. Nether Whitacre
WCCL Division 1 – 50 overs a side – Win/Lose format
KENILWORTH LOST BY 6 WICKETS
Kenilworth 131-10 (43.5 overs) (1 point) lost to Nether Whitacre 134-4 (31.5 overs) (20 points) by 6 wickets. Scorecard
Kenilworth found runs hard to come by and could only post 131 as they were bowled out inside 45 overs against an accurate Nether Whitacre bowling attack as they suffered their first League defeat of the season. Dan Horner with 28, top scored for the Town, whilst Steve Rhodes and Adey Sellar both hit 19 and Jack Howard 15 but they were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as Lawrence took 3-31, Mousley 2-18, Reeves 2-22, Danks 2-26 and Reynolds 1-18 for the hosts with the Kenilworth side never recovering from being 69-6 to post a testing score.
Nether Whitacre then comfortably reached the target and 134-4 with ease and with plenty of overs in hand to record a 6 wicket win as Plowman hit 35, Broughton an unbeaten 30 and Mousley 23 despite Darius Potten-Ravenshad taking 2-31, Howard 1-15 and Sonu Kumar 1-33 for the Town. Henry Curran took two outfield catches as the hosts had much the better of the day.
2nd. XI
Kenilworth v. Nether Whitacre
WCCL Division 7 East – 50 overs a side – Win/Lose format
KENILWORTH WON BY 4 WICKETS.
Nether Whitacre 246-7 (50 overs) (6 points) lost to Kenilworth 247-6 (49.5 overs) (20 points) by 4 wickets. Scorecard
In contrast, the 2nd. XI secured a very fine 4 wicket win chasing down Nether Whitacre’s challenging score of 246-7 with the match going to its penultimate ball in a very exciting and tense finish with Kenilworth’s number 7, Ben Clarke, 37 not out, hitting a six and a match winning boundary in the final over to give Kenilworth the win after skipper Dave Smithson had earlier hit 73 (11 x 4) as he put on 105 runs with Danny Boneham 66 (7×4) for the third wicket in the side’s run chase. It was then left to Clarke who was joined by Dave Gamble who made a crucial 13 not out and the pair held firm in their 40 runs unbeaten match winning 7th. wicket partnership to give Kenilworth victory by the narrowest of margins and reach 247-6 with one ball to spare.
Earlier, Preece had hit 75, Thomas 53, Birch 31 and Cooper 21 in Nether Whitacre’s total as Charlie Stranks took 2-27 both caught and bowled along with two outfield catches – one of which was sublime. Youngsters Sam Davies chipped in with 2-33 and Will Sheehan 1-52 with Gamble taking 2-42, in a great all round performance by the Kenilworth side.
THIS COMING WEEKEND FIXTURES –
Saturday 30th. April
1st. XI v. Handsworth – HOME – 12.30 p.m. start (Warwickshire County Cricket League Division 1) 50 overs a side – Win/Lose format
2nd. XI v. Fillongley – Away – 12.30 p.m. start (Warwickshire County Cricket League Division 7 East) 50 overs a side – Win/Lose format
Sunday 1st. May
No game at Home.
Club’s Bank Holiday Tour to Somerset.
