CRICKET: THERE was no joy for Kenilworth at the weekend as the club’s first team slipped to another heavy defeat, their fifth of the season.
Morning rain reduced the game to 37 overs per side, and Kenilworth were asked to bat on an understandably slow wicket against Ambleside.
Kenilworth were soon struggling at 39/2 in the 14th over – and wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
The score stood at 65/5, and then 87/7, as only batsmen Adie Seller (39) and Tom Booker (28*) made any score of note as Kenilworth reached 112/7 from their 37 overs.
Healey (10/2), Kalifay (19/2), and Davies (20/2) restricted the home side to their below par total.
Ambleside made a strong start in reply, moving to 76/1.
However four quick wickets reduced the visitors to 87/5 as seamer Ian Baker took three wickets for just 27 runs to briefly hand Kenilworth hope.
Ambleside knocked off the remaining runs required without further loss though, finishing on 115/5 to win by five wickets and eleven overs to spare.
Other wicket takers for Kenilworth were Jorjeet Singh (12/1) and Chris Prophet with (43/1) – Stevens top scored for the visitors with 28.
3RD XI
Kenilworth’s third team played at Warwick County Council Staff 2nd XI away for their Cotswold Hills Division Six fixture.
With plenty of rain around, both captains agreed to play the game on an artificial wicket.
Kenilworth lost the toss and were asked to bat first.
Opening pair Jono Sparks and Gareth Knights made a solid start putting on 38 for the first wicket, before Sparks was well caught at cover for 18.
Knights went on to make a season best of 40, but after he was out Kenilworth struggled to make any impact on the home sides bowling – only Umashanker (16) and young George Baines (17*) registered a score of note as Kenilworth made 143/8 from their forty five overs.
A five-wicket haul for Beazley did the damage.
Warwick Staff made a strong start to their reply, putting on 41 for the first wicket.
The score quickly fell to 56/2 though, but Jordan batted through and made a fine 62* for his side.
Warwick Staff needed to score 131 to win from 41 overs after further rain fell.
The home side reached their target with fourteen overs to spare, finishing on 132 for 2 – Warwick Staff winning by eight wickets.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, Kenilworth hosted Leicestershire-based side Wanderers in a 40 over a side friendly.
Choosing to bat first, Kenilworth were soon in trouble at 18/2 and then 44/4 as the home side found scoring runs hard.
A further collapse of home wickets left them teetering on the brink at 85/9 from 33 overs.
Only a late 28* from Jack Howard helped Kenilworth limp to 118 all out.
The Wanderers openers got the visitors off a flying start, putting on 85 for the first wicket in only fourteen overs until veteran slow bowler Andy Smith (26/1) removed Sukih for an aggressive 45.
But his opening partner Tahir with 42* and number three Dev with 19* saw their side home with nineteen overs in hand, finishing on 121 for 1.
Wanderers the winners by nine wickets.
