CRICKET: RAIN and a spot of hail forced Kenilworth’s Warwickshire Division One clash against Kings Heath to be delayed.
But when the rain eventually passed they probably wished it had settled as they suffered a disappointing five wicket loss.
After being put into bat, Kenilworth lost an early wicket before being two down with the score on 36.
Chris Phophet (28) and Dave Edmunds (23) put on 36 for the third wicket, but runs proved hard to come by as the home team stamped their authority on the game.
Kenilworth slipped to 89/5 and then 117/7 as only Pete Magafas (20), Tom Booker (14), and Ben Whidborne (12) reached double figures as Kenilworth were all out for130. , but Kenilworth were all out for 130.
A further rain delay saw the home side lose further overs and require their target from 26 overs.
Opening batsmen McKeaver and Baker put on a strong partnership of 71 for the first wicket in quick time before McKeaver was dismissed for 28.
Baker went on to make 47, as the home side slipped from 71/1 to 96/4. But a stand of 30 saw kings Heath to verge of victory as they reached 131/5 with two overs to spare.
Kenilworth took three league points from the game as their unbeaten run of seven games came to an end.
2ND XI
Kenilworth’s second team hosted table topping Attleborough in the Warwickshire Cricket League Seventh Division on Saturday.
After rain delayed the start by an hour, the game was reduced to 42 overs per side.
Attleborough won the toss and put the home side into bat.
A steady but slow start saw Kenilworth reach 41/1, which quickly became 41/3.
Pete Huxford then joined opener Mark Stranks, the pair began to repair the damage before Huxford was dismissed for 15.
Stranks was ploughing a lone furrow, he was to carry his bat through the 42 overs – finishing on 88*.
However Stranks received little support as the home side ended up on 140/6 from 42 overs.
The visitors batsmen looked to be positive in their pursuit of the runs needed to keep them top of the league.
Young seamer Ryan Bull bowled an impressive opening spell, taking 1 for 30 from ten overs, while Whitemore – after a slow start – began to cut loose.
Kenilworth skipper Geoff Edmunds removed the other opener, taking a frugal 1 for 13 from eight tidy overs.
Along with Whitemore, Russell stated to increase the tempo. However when he fell to a smart catch Attleborough couldn’t afford to become complacent.
Finishing on 51*, Whitemore saw his side over the line as Attleborough ended on 141/3 to win by seven wickets.
