Molamure century, Tapper and Maher cameos overwhelm Westlake

Achindra Molamure acknowledges the support of his team mates on reaching his century. Photo credit: Austin Langford. 

On a green pitch that was overdue for a mow Westlake, the defending champions, won the toss and chose to bowl. This was the first time in five matches that King’s had the opportunity to bat first and test their batting depth. On the back of a sublime century from Achindra Molamure (115 in 142 balls) King’s reached 259/7 in 50 overs. Molamure received valuable support as all the batsmen chipped in. He dominated a 48-run partnership with first drop, Josh Olliver. He repeated that in a 47-run partnership with Muhammad Abbas, followed by 39 run partnership with Karl Wallace. Molamure lost his wicket in the 48^th over after compiling a 59-run partnership with Nick Tapper. The biggish crowd was treated to fireworks in the form of a 33-run partnership in 13 balls between Tapper and Patrick Maher in which the latter clubbed the first three deliveries he faced, disdainfully over the ropes for the maximum. Tapper’s 25-ball innings was a masterclass of bat dominating the ball as he even overshadowed Molamure who was tiring nearing the end of his long innings. Tapper at one stage scored 23 runs in 10 consecutive balls with only one of those being a dot ball. His clean striking was breath taking to watch mainly as it was good cricketing shots. Maher is the most devasting batsman in this competition as he once again showed with a cameo of 31 runs in 12 balls.

Achindra Molamure top-scored with 115 runs off 142 balls. Photo credit: Austin Langford

More needs to be written on the Molamure century as a big innings was due but he nearly threw it away before reaching double figures. Luckily, he was given a reprieve. This brought out a changed approach from the opener as he took stock of what just happened and knuckled down for a long innings. Since that blemish in the early overs, he provided no further chances until later on in the innings once the team score had reached relative safety. He scored 14 boundaries in his innings against a decent attack and if he was ever in doubt before, he should now have the firm belief that he is a batsman of class and if he weathers the early storm, stays patient, big scores will follow.

At 121/3 in the 32^nd over Westlake were not out of the reckoning and the troublesome 4^th wicket partnership grew to 67 before Toby Irvine struck for his first of four wickets. This derailed the hosts innings and wickets fell regularly thereafter. When the hosts began their chase, they were in need of at least 5 runs per over but the pace attack of Muhammad Abbas, Louis Anderson and Nick Tapper did not allow them any escape as they bowled with venom and accuracy. The ball constantly missed the outside edge of the bat and Tapper’s prodigious in-swing kept the keeper Tom Paranthoiene busy throughout his spell. This trio of bowlers conceded less than 3 RPO and the asking run rate shot upwards steadily. Seb Macdonald bowled a tidy spell at first change and finished with 0/19 in 5 overs. The experienced Westlake middle order mounted a recovery, and this was helped by Paddy Maher having an off day with the ball. Liam Denny, who made his debut two days ago against MAGS was brought into the attack in the 24^th over whilst Westlake’s best batsmen were out in the middle. Denny bowled with decent pace and showed that he can cope at this level by conceding just 20 runs off his 5 overs. Once the spinners Irvine and Max Chaplin got involved Westlake were pummelled into submission with King’s claiming a 123-run victory. Tom Paranthoiene had another sterling performance as keeper – taking two catches and being very tidy behind the stumps, with no byes being conceded.

After a two-day break, the team will have their final tough assignment this term as AGS will mount a challenge at King’s on Tuesday.

King’s win by 123 runs.