27 Jul 2008 - Captain Foxy and His Merry Band
Kingswood, as visitors to KCCC`s excellent ground at Ham Green, recorded a rare away win to match its victory at home in May; made all the more pleasurable by fine performances from its younger players.
KCCC`s joy at the early dismissal of Kingswood`s sacrificial openers, changed to despair in the hot sun as 24 year old Richard Wilding and 16 year old match skipper Ben Foxwell piled on a 173 partnership at eight runs an over. Richard took the lead with 91, including 15 fours, off 83 balls. When he went at 191 the more orthodox Ben opened up with a dazzling array of strokes, so much so that the normally eye catching ones of his partners in the closing overs, Barry Morgan and Vince Taylor, were quite outshone. His 77 of 79 balls included 26 off his last 12 balls and ten fours in all. The total of 246 runs for 6 off 35 overs, especially the manner of their scoring, left Kingswood more than happy during the high quality tea.
Contentment continued as Steve Moran and Andy Smith reduced the hosts to 22 for 3, but lessened as Duncan Severn and Rob Hathaway put on 65, at eight an over. Just as the game was going KCCC`s way, 16 year old Jay Simmons removed them both. Ben Guy made it six down and Vince Taylor followed his Pratt Cup 5 for 9, four days earlier, with a 4 for 17 demolition of the tail. Kingswood won by 111 to match its home victory of 114 in May; the only year it has done the double in this fixture.