King’s repel Saint Kentigern College in first encounter on new pitch

In a long-anticipated inaugural match on the newly laid pitch King’s hosted Saint Kentigern College. The visitors won the toss and inserted King’s in to bat due to the ideal conditions that awaited any decent bowling attack. Nathan Robinson returned from injury earlier than expected and opened in the company of Achindra Molamure.

The Saint Kentigern College bowlers lacked control and both batsmen capitalised on the many opportunities that came their way. The opening partnership reached 71 in the 9^th over when Robinson departed for a brisk 46 runs (28 balls). At this stage, with the talented batting available, it seemed that the home team would easily exceed 150 runs. Molamure, who curbed his initial recklessness to play with more thought as his partnership with Muhammad Abbas blossomed was dismissed for 25 runs (35 balls). This wicket inspired St Kentigern as their bowling and fielding improved markedly and they began to strangle the home batsmen and who due to the early onslaught could not resist the urge to play the ball in the air.

Abbas on the other hand, was playing with great maturity and awareness as he played the first seven balls he faced for singles, intent on rotating the strike to allow initially Molamure and later Patrick Maher to play their natural game. When these two batsmen perished Abbas took on the mantle of nurturing the debutant Karl Wallace into overcoming his nerves in the face of a demanding onslaught from the opposition. Wallace showed his undoubted talent with a few fine strokes before the pressure of dot balls got to him and he was bowled.

Abbas soon followed at 116 for 5 in the 19^th over before Seb Macdonald and Louis Anderson ensured that King’s reached a respectable 124 runs with both playing some fine strokes down the ground. At 100 for 3 in the 15^th over, when Maher departed King’s looked like they could still reach 140 but St Kentigern dominated the 2^nd half of this innings when they picked up six wickets for 64 runs compared to the one for 80 in the first ten over.

Thomas Paranthoiene, captain of the match, led his team out for the second half in defence of 124 runs. The St Kentigern openers enjoyed a fair bit of luck as many balls missed the outside edge, badly executed strokes fell in no man’s land and there was a few dropped catches.

Seb Macdonald broke the opening partnership, thus earning the accolade of picking up the first wicket to fall on the newly laid block. When Maher and Toby Irvine joined the attack after the 8^th over the pressure created by the opening quartet of bowlers now became unbearable as these two gave very little away. Maher was at his disciplined best as he began with a maiden over, a rarity in this form of the game whilst Irvine picked up a wicket with his first ball.

From 36/1 at the end of the 8^th over St Kentigern were destitute at 63/5 at the end of the 16^th, requiring to double this score in the remaining 4 overs. Irvine snaffled three wickets to derail any hopes that St Kentigern had of making a mad dash in the late overs and his pairing with Maher was well planned by the skipper.

Max Chaplin, the second debutant of the day was unfortunate not to pick up his maiden wicket as he showed he has the ability to perform in the big stage.  Earlier, Abbas was virtually unplayable with the new ball and when he was replaced by Nick Tapper the pressure continued.

Although the T20 format that this competition is upholding is not ideal for school cricket this match attracted more than the usual amount of spectators and the beautiful morning sunshine highlighted the contrasting deep blue and rich maroon strips of these fine schools. The stunningly manicured outfield helped showcase the newly laid wicket block and gratitude must be extended to the ground staff, mainly Matt Fraser and Jamie Jensen for their painstaking effort in the huge amount of care and preparation that this requires.  

Debut:  Max Chaplin and Karl Wallace

King’s win by 43 runs