B’HAM LEAGUE-PREMIER DIVISION

KENILWORTH WARDENS v KIDDERMINSTER 28/5/16

KCC 322-8 (50 overs) KENILWORTH 276 all out (47.2 overs) KCC WON BY 46 RUNS (20 pts) KENILWORTH (7pts)

Kenilworth won the toss and invited KCC to bat on what turned out to be an excellent batting wicket. However, Kenilworth’s bowlers were faced with a team who were up to strength for the first time this season. Only Brinder Phagura with good figures of,10-1-5-43, managed to contain the visitors solid batting.

KCC lost their first wicket for 31 runs when Nathan Round (9) was out caught. The score had reached 58, but a second wicket fell when the other opener Craig Wood (33) was also caught giving Phagura his first two wickets.

A good stand of 117 came from the batting of skipper Matt Pardoe and Neil Pinner. It lasted 23 overs before Pardoe (62) was caught. He had hit six 4s.

Then came a stand of 75, with Mike Hill partnering Pinner. It only lasted nine overs but there was some fine batting. Hill had scored 34 when he was caught, giving Phagura his 3rd wicket, but he had struck four 4s and a six.

Only 8 runs had been added before Richard Kimberlin (1) was out caught off Pidgeon’s bowling. The score

His century arrived with the total at 310. Another catch, off the bowling of Australian Blake Maher, saw the departure of Pinner after and outstanding innings of 132. He had faced 121 balls, hitting ten 4s and three 6s.

Connor Smith was next man out having scored 21, two 4s and a 6. He had shared in a stand of 52 with Pinner. Liam Weston scored 6, and the not-out batsmen were Tom Kimberlin (1) and Ryan Wheldon (1), a 16 year old making his 1st XI debut.

It was now the task of the Kidderminster bowlers to repeat the efforts of their batting colleagues.

It started well when Nick Seager was bowled by Connor Smith for 2. A good recovery saw the total reach 83 when Arjun Bath was bowled by Liam Weston for 33.

There was only going to be one man, Blake Maher, who would bat superbly, defying the bowlers to remove him. He had scored 81 when he was bowled by Pinner. He had hit seven 4s and three 6s.

The other scorers of note were Basit Zaman (46), and Phigura (34).

Neil Pinner backed up his batting with some excellent bowling, taking 5-47 from 9 overs. Mention should be made of Ryan Wheldon who took his first wicket, while skipper Pardoe returned good figures of 9-2-1-27.

So, a win at last. Next Saturday the 1st XI travel to Knowle & Dorridge with a 12 noon start.