Match report v Kempton (f) 21 April by Robin Ford

 

Skipper for the day, Tim Blatt, won the toss and put Kempton into bat on a good-looking wicket.  Evan and new boy Dieter opened the bowling both with tidy performances and each took a wicket in the first ten overs.  James and Gopi then took over and bowled equally well – James taking 1 for 15 in 5 overs and Gopi 3 for 34 in 12 overs (two spells).  Mitsi also bowled well (1 for 23 in 7) and another new player, Gerome, picked up a wicket in 4 overs although a little more expensive.  Supported by a sound fielding display Kempton were restricted to 188-9 declared in 47 overs.

 

The St Lukes started well with both Richards looking in fine form.  Trying to force the scoring against Kempton’s best bowler, Richard B was excellently caught at mid-off for 8 and a promising partnership began between Richard S and Dieter.  This was cut short with the score on 36 when Dieter was smartly run out.  New players Warren and Alex then failed to score leaving St Lukes on 40-4.  The late middle order pulled things around.  Richard S went on to score 42 (run out), Gopi scored a bright 14 before falling to a remarkable diving catch at point, and Mitsi chipped in with 25.  When Mitsi was out James was left with the tail and at 121-9 with 11 overs remaining things were looking grim.  However, an unbeaten last wicket stand of 39 between James (38) and Tim “not out” Blatt (8) saw St Lukes to a satisfying draw.  A good pre-season workout.

 

Man of the Match – James Somers

 

Player

Richard Bent +

Richard Somers

Dieter Grutzner

Warren Heathersay

Alex Street

Gopi Desai

Mitsi Patel

James Somers

Gerome Heath

Evan Huyerman

Tim Blatt *

Score

8

42

3

0

0

14

25

38*

0

4

8*

Overs

 

 

8

 

 

12

7

5

4

5

6

Mdns

 

 

0

 

 

3

2

2

0

0

2

Runs

 

 

34

 

 

34

23

15

27

21

19

Wkts

 

 

2

 

 

3

1

1

1

1

0

Cats

1

 

1

 

 

 

 

1

St

1