(Josh Williams 15-1-55-3, Kasim Abbas 15-1-63-2, Parminder Bhomra 9.1-0-39-3, Jag Patel 9-1-61-1)
Kings Heath 113 for 7 in 52.0 overs
Jattin Patel bowled 5 (7 balls)
Kasim Abbas bowled 1 (6 balls)
Parminder Bhomra lbw 25 (60 balls, 4x4)
Bernard O'Connor 30 not out (166 balls, 3x4)
Sam Crocker bowled 2 (9 balls)
Adnan Ali lbw 15 (27 balls, 1x4)
Gregg Arrand bowled 2 (17 balls)
Josh Williams bowled 4 (5 balls, 1x4)
Adam Badger 4 not out (15 balls)
Did not bat: Jag Patel, Graham Arrand
FOW: 5 6 46 53 70 81 85
MATCH DRAWN
The final league match of the season saw Kings Heath only needing to avoid defeat to avoid relegation in a hard fought battle in the lower half of the table. The opposition was top of the table Walsall WMF, who were leading the Division by a single point. This meant both teams were keen for Walsall to bat first in order to potentially gain maximum points from the game. Walsall were determined to secure outright victory in order to claim the division title.
Walsall batted first and experienced second team bowlers Kasim Abbas and Josh Williams were called upon to open the bowling. Walsall made a solid start, progressing without alarm for several overs. One of the opening batsman kept pushing clever singles into the leg side off Josh; varying the force from the shot and manipulating the placement of the short midwicket fielder. However one such shot was slightly mistimed and the ball hung in the air long enough for Gregg to take a neat catch low down to his right at midwicket. This wicket lifted the team spirits and several more wickets followed as the pressure increased. Bernard, fielding at cover point, intercepted a well struck cut shot with his stomach and managed to clutch it to his body with his hands and folds of his jumper as he rolled backwards. Moments like this inspired the Kings Heath side and they rode the wave of momentum to reduce Walsall to 50 for 5. Kings Heath could have taken the sixth wicket and possibly the match when the Walsall number six, a left hander, leant back on a pull shot and lifted the ball in the air to Sam Crocker positioned at deep midwicket. However Crocker failed to even attempt the simple catch, instead preferring to allow the ball to bounce a yard in front and collect the ball on the rebound as it bounced up towards his chest. This transpired to be the defining moment of the match as the reprieved batsman scored a rapid fifty. He repeatedly took deliveries that were well wide of off stump and launched them over the fielders positioned between fine leg and midwicket. Although this particular batsman was dismissed shortly after passing his fifty, the momentum shifted inexorably toward the batting side. The pressure of the occasion had almost overcome the Walsall batters, but they fed off the momentum and steamrollered their way to 225 all out. There had been excellent commitment in the field from most Kings Heath players, throwing themselves around on a muddy outfield in order to save runs and take catches. Crocker was the only player to leave the field with pristine whites, having again let a potential catch bounce in front of him; much to the frustration and disbelief of the other players in the team. Jag Patel used flight effectively and collected a wicket, wicket keeper Graham Arrand took a sharp stumping from a Parminder quicker delivery. Jattin took a smart catch at deep square leg and Kasim took the final catch when a ball looped high up to short fine leg from the bowling of Parminder. Walsall were bowled out from the first delivery of the 49th over, leaving Kings Heath with 51 overs to survive.
Kings Heath openers Jattin Patel and Kasim Abbas fell early in the chase; both were bowled for five and one respectively as Kings Heath stumbled to 6 for 2. A slow but steady partnership of 40 between Parminder Bhomra and Bernard O’Connor calmed the innings. Persistent bowling by Walsall meant that Parminder was given out lbw for 23 despite indications that the ball was missing the stumps, and Crocker was bowled by the ninth delivery he received for only two runs, leaving Kings Heath at 53 for 4. Adnan Ali and Gregg Arrand kept Bernard company for several overs until their respective dismissals. Josh Williams, batting at number eight, continued with his tradition of hitting his first delivery for four, but was bowled by his fifth ball; Kings Heath reduced to a perilous 85 for 7. Bernard meanwhile was absorbing the pressure with a defiant innings, withstanding a vociferous barrage of unnecessary and spiteful verbal abuse from the entire Walsall team. Unfortunately the league umpire was reluctant or incapable of controlling this behaviour, and Walsall pushed it to the limit when deliberately bowling two intentional beamers at the batsman. Bernard benefitted from the use of his soft hands when playing defensive shots, repeatedly dropping the ball down at his feet, forcing the fielders closer and closer. This ensured that when Bernard did offer several sharp chances, the fielders were too close to react quickly enough to take the catch and the opportunity was missed. Overall it was a courageous innings by Bernard; withstanding a top of the table bowling attack and resisting for a monumental 166 deliveries. An illegal extra over was bowled by Walsall in an attempt to clinch a match during which tensions were running high. Adam Badger was the other not out batsman at the end facing 15 deliveries for his unbeaten four runs. The final league table read well for both competing teams: Lyndworth, who were close second in the league had their match abandoned without a ball being bowled, effectively deciding the Division One title as soon as the decision was made, Kings Heath finishing above Barby, Kenilworth and Solihull Blossomfield in the table. The sheer fun and excitement of the final hour, with defensive shots being cheered to the echo, attacking strokes sending a chill up the collective spine proved a superb end to a dramatic summer of cricket.
Walsall batted first and experienced second team bowlers Kasim Abbas and Josh Williams were called upon to open the bowling. Walsall made a solid start, progressing without alarm for several overs. One of the opening batsman kept pushing clever singles into the leg side off Josh; varying the force from the shot and manipulating the placement of the short midwicket fielder. However one such shot was slightly mistimed and the ball hung in the air long enough for Gregg to take a neat catch low down to his right at midwicket. This wicket lifted the team spirits and several more wickets followed as the pressure increased. Bernard, fielding at cover point, intercepted a well struck cut shot with his stomach and managed to clutch it to his body with his hands and folds of his jumper as he rolled backwards. Moments like this inspired the Kings Heath side and they rode the wave of momentum to reduce Walsall to 50 for 5. Kings Heath could have taken the sixth wicket and possibly the match when the Walsall number six, a left hander, leant back on a pull shot and lifted the ball in the air to Sam Crocker positioned at deep midwicket. However Crocker failed to even attempt the simple catch, instead preferring to allow the ball to bounce a yard in front and collect the ball on the rebound as it bounced up towards his chest. This transpired to be the defining moment of the match as the reprieved batsman scored a rapid fifty. He repeatedly took deliveries that were well wide of off stump and launched them over the fielders positioned between fine leg and midwicket. Although this particular batsman was dismissed shortly after passing his fifty, the momentum shifted inexorably toward the batting side. The pressure of the occasion had almost overcome the Walsall batters, but they fed off the momentum and steamrollered their way to 225 all out. There had been excellent commitment in the field from most Kings Heath players, throwing themselves around on a muddy outfield in order to save runs and take catches. Crocker was the only player to leave the field with pristine whites, having again let a potential catch bounce in front of him; much to the frustration and disbelief of the other players in the team. Jag Patel used flight effectively and collected a wicket, wicket keeper Graham Arrand took a sharp stumping from a Parminder quicker delivery. Jattin took a smart catch at deep square leg and Kasim took the final catch when a ball looped high up to short fine leg from the bowling of Parminder. Walsall were bowled out from the first delivery of the 49th over, leaving Kings Heath with 51 overs to survive.
Kings Heath openers Jattin Patel and Kasim Abbas fell early in the chase; both were bowled for five and one respectively as Kings Heath stumbled to 6 for 2. A slow but steady partnership of 40 between Parminder Bhomra and Bernard O’Connor calmed the innings. Persistent bowling by Walsall meant that Parminder was given out lbw for 23 despite indications that the ball was missing the stumps, and Crocker was bowled by the ninth delivery he received for only two runs, leaving Kings Heath at 53 for 4. Adnan Ali and Gregg Arrand kept Bernard company for several overs until their respective dismissals. Josh Williams, batting at number eight, continued with his tradition of hitting his first delivery for four, but was bowled by his fifth ball; Kings Heath reduced to a perilous 85 for 7. Bernard meanwhile was absorbing the pressure with a defiant innings, withstanding a vociferous barrage of unnecessary and spiteful verbal abuse from the entire Walsall team. Unfortunately the league umpire was reluctant or incapable of controlling this behaviour, and Walsall pushed it to the limit when deliberately bowling two intentional beamers at the batsman. Bernard benefitted from the use of his soft hands when playing defensive shots, repeatedly dropping the ball down at his feet, forcing the fielders closer and closer. This ensured that when Bernard did offer several sharp chances, the fielders were too close to react quickly enough to take the catch and the opportunity was missed. Overall it was a courageous innings by Bernard; withstanding a top of the table bowling attack and resisting for a monumental 166 deliveries. An illegal extra over was bowled by Walsall in an attempt to clinch a match during which tensions were running high. Adam Badger was the other not out batsman at the end facing 15 deliveries for his unbeaten four runs. The final league table read well for both competing teams: Lyndworth, who were close second in the league had their match abandoned without a ball being bowled, effectively deciding the Division One title as soon as the decision was made, Kings Heath finishing above Barby, Kenilworth and Solihull Blossomfield in the table. The sheer fun and excitement of the final hour, with defensive shots being cheered to the echo, attacking strokes sending a chill up the collective spine proved a superb end to a dramatic summer of cricket.
