Kilve show us how it's done
Kilve, Somerset, 9/25/2021
Kilve won by 4 wickets
Strongroom: 196-6 [G.Jones 104*]
Kilve: 197-6 [C.Clemenson 67*, P.Stone 55]
View the Scorecard
This was our second autumnal tour, and our first to West Somerset and North Devon. Kilve is positioned right on the edge of the Bristol Channel, and is a ground of some character, though the ‘beach’ is an expansive and somewhat brutal slab of rock. It’s often invigorating to play a new fixture, and in this case it was obvious on arrival that Kilve are a very well organised and friendly club.
Following traditional tour etiquette, Kilve kindly let us bat first. The pitch was a bit subdued, slow and low, yet the outfield was freshly cut and quick. Their opening bowlers were a good contrast - Taylor was young, quick and bowled a full, searching length, whereas James was a wily veteran who bowled slow and low. Gwyn, however, was in top form, and slammed 104*, and looked to be in full command of his game. Vinay (35) provided good assistance, and delighted onlookers on several occasions with a deft late cut to third man, until his innings was terminated by young Sherburn when he missed a straight, full-pitched ball. Otto was just starting to look comfortable when he too was castled, by a returning, resurgent Taylor. In the final overs, DP (17*) again tapped it around and rotated the strike, but Kilve had come back strongly, and we ended up on a somewhat modest 196.
With Kilve’s innings, we were never really in the game and were generally lacklustre. Perhaps the lack of a Friday night game, and a 4-5 hour morning drive for most of us had rendered Strongroom into a state of lethargy. Left-handed opener Stone (55) clearly knew his game, and frustrated us for much of the innings. The removal of Stone’s opening partner, courtesy of Otto’s inswing, merely brought in the pugnacious Clemenson (67*), whose undefeated knock took them to a four-wicket victory. He did, however, have two lives - the first was slammed flat to DG at wide mid-on, and the second edged off Riaz to DP behind the timbers. There was some joy for us, however, with Seb’s first delivery, and indeed his first over, where he claimed three Kilveans in total with his seam-up wobblers. His first victim first was Stone, who was caught behind as a sweep down the legside caught the reverse of his bat and bobbled up softly for DP. Riaz was unlucky, with two chances put down off his leg-breaks, and Vinay's usual tenacious line and length were strangely absent. With Seb’s uber-over we had momentarily contemplated sneaking a win, but Clemenson’s determination and luck saw them safely home.
After the game, Kilve plied us with a wide range of beverages and entertaining conversation, and then we walked down the lane to the Hood Arms to repeat the same all over again. We’ll be back.
In the image below we see Mario parked up inside the Kilve nets.
Written By: J.Gower
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