2012
Sun 22 July Alleyn Adhocs Lost by 8 wkts
We 106/10 in 37.5 overs (Gore 33, T.Keleher 20, Scalco 11, Extras 24, Kato Blake 3/17, Oliver Byrne 3/32)
They 107/2 in 31.4 overs (Oliver Smiddy 44, Lilly 22*, Tharakan 2/10)
KCC scored too few runs to make a game of it in this usually close contested fixture. Alleyns chased the target down slowly but surely. 3 KCC teenagers starred in last season’s win. This season, it was our 2 oldies, San and Sunil, who saved us from complete annihilation.
Once Tim was triggered for 20, KCC were unable to forge any partnerships. San held the innings together with a tenacious 33 but the fact that extras was second top scorer told its own story. Our total of 106 was at least 50 runs shy of a defendable total. Kato Blake was KCC’s chief tormentor with 3 wickets.
Sunil and Seethal battled manfully to bowl Kensington into the game conceding a combined total of 18 runs off their 16 overs with Seethal taking 2 wickets, but they found little support from the rest of the bowling attack. Oliver Smiddy set Alleyns on their way with the best timed driving of the match and Alleyns reached their target with just 2 wickets down. Interestingly, extras (28) was again second top scorer.
Despite the comprehensive loss, it was great to be playing cricket under blue skies after 2 months of unremitting grey cloud and rain.
2011
Sun 11 Sept Alleyn Adhocs Won by 6 wkts
They 160/10 in 39 overs (Sarson 37, Peak 28, Twinn 23*, Gorasiya 3/19, Stefanos Nayar 3/33, Vinay Chaggar 2/26)
We 163/4 in 32.1 overs (Pammi Chaggar 70, Ghosh 63, Twinn 2/38)
The future’s bright, the future’s maroon! Youth had its day as KCC easily won this usually closely contested fixture (and when we say youth, we do actually mean school-age cricketers, not 38 year old investment bankers). Nayar Jnr, Chaggar Jnr and Jefferson Jnr all played instrumental roles in Kensington’s victory. Stefanos took some punishment from the Alleyn’s openers but kept his composure to send back the dangerous Sarson. He then came back strongly at the end of the innings to claim 2 more scalps. Moving the ball both ways – seemingly at will – and with a wrong-footed action reminiscent of Les Taylor or Garth le Roux in their pomp, Stef is going to be taking wickets for a long time yet. It must be in the genes. All we can say is – well done Anna! Then it was Vinay’s turn to come to the party. With Dad mentoring his son through his spell from mid off, Vinay went through the full repertoire of the off spinner’s art from well-flighted off breaks to double bouncing arm balls. He took 2 for 26 from his 8 overs and will soon be vying with Graham Swann for the title of most effective finger-spinner in world cricket! Oscar showed a safe pair of hands to bag 2 catches. More importantly, he saw KCC safely home in the gloaming. The highlight was a four cannily late cut to the vacant 3rd man boundary. Again, we’re moved to ask – where did he learn that technique and where does he get that cool head from? Pammi and Ro also chipped in with solid 50s. For Alleyns, Sarson and Peak played shots all round the wicket at the top of the innings and barrel-chested skipper John Twinn made useful contributions with both bat and ball to take home the bottle of Johnnie Walker.
However, it was Stef, Vinay and Oscar who took home the plaudits. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
KENSINGTON CRICKET CLUB 