King's Squander Promising Start

• King’s College 197/9 (50 overs)
• Rosmini College 198/5 (48.1 overs)

At 80/1 with the loss of Hamish McLean in the 20th over, King's looked like they were set for a score in excess of 250 with the quality of batsmen lying in wait. Hamish McLean rode his luck and spent useful time out in the middle for a valuable 35 runs. A minor hiccup occurred when an out-of-sorts Tristan Payle lost his wicket for 2 runs after being let-off twice.

In the meantime Gray Hardy, in the company of the talented Callum Douglas, was building towards an imposing innings and was untroubled by any of the bowlers until he ran himself out in the 40th over for an impressive 69 runs with the score on 155/3. With 10 overs to go, the top order had set the platform for the capable middle and lower order to push on towards 250, but this was made a bit trickier with the loss of Callum Douglas for a patient but well-needed 33.

The Rosmini bowlers sensed the home team’s eagerness for a big finish and gave very little away, luring the King's batsmen into a procession of false strokes. The next 4 wickets fell for a dismal 18 runs as King's frittered away the advantage gained by the top order with Mitchell Nash, Fergus Salmon and Sam Wilson combining to add just a solitary run to the ledger. William St John, who came in at the fall of the 4th wicket and watched the carnage unfold around him, battled hard to preserve his wicket and keep the scoreboard ticking over.

After all the promise expected from the last 10 overs, King's had a woeful 40 runs for the loss of 6 wickets to show for it, reaching 197/9 at the end of 50 overs. Credit must be given to the Rosmini death bowlers Sam Bowden and Niko Weerakoon who together gave away 28 runs in the last 6 overs as they stymied the King's onslaught by picking up 5 wickets between them.

Although Rosmini batted conservatively and with mature restraint the RRR was always at a modest level and at 52/3 in the 17th over, King's would have sensed a weakening in the visitors defence. With the pacemen unable to penetrate, reliance was placed on spin but the Rosmini 4th wicket pair of Seedall and Durand showed grit and maturity to pick out the loose balls and often chipped straight past the bowlers to keep in touch with the required rate.

William MacCulloch got into good rhythm and it was heartening to see him and Hamish McLean operating together for a long spell. Jordan van Riele was the most economical King’s bowler but he was under-utilised and could have had an impact in the last 10 overs. Late strikes by William St John could not prevent Rosmini from a convincing 5 wicket victory.