Kingsdon CC reclaim coveted cup after thrilling finale

Kingsdon CC defeated Carpe Vinum CC in the most dramatic fashion to reclaim the cup that had rested in their rivals’ hands for the last two years, hitting the winning runs with a mere two balls to spare.

Carpe’s opening batsmen Strong and Hewitt strode out to the crease underneath a sky patched with cloud and filled with aircraft, as Kingsdon Air Show coincided its Red Arrow, Vulcan and Apache displays with this momentous match.

Carpe started brightly, as Strong thumped some boundaries in a bid to establish dominance. When he fell for 13 off the bowling of Dale, it fell to Bremakumar to maintain Carpe’s bright start. The number three batsman was given more lives than a cat by Kingsdon, lofting the ball high only to see it slip through the fielder’s fingers on countless occasions, as he built an erratic but impressive score.

When Hewitt departed for a nuggety 5, it brought Carpe’s bona fide cricketer Saunders to the crease and, after getting his eye in, the man with the green helmet set about building Carpe’s innings. The ball was bludgeoned to almost every corner of the boundary, on three occasions even clearing the ropes, as the visitors’ score grew at an encouraging pace for the visitors. Ultimately, however, Saunders’ dismissal felt rather soft, skying the ball in search of another boundary and being caught for 68 off the bowling of Weaver.

Saunders’ departure brought about the traditional Carpe collapse, as a procession of batsmen strode to the crease only to trudge back with bowed heads and wry grins a few balls later, often off the bowling of Weaver. No.11 batsman Whitting was clean bowled for 3 and while Carpe had niggling doubts and regrets about failing to bat out the full 40 overs, most could agree that 170 all out was a challenging score.

After a splendid tea, Carpe took the field to welcome Kingsdon’s openers. Saunders and Manthorpe bowled with disciplined aggression, but Morgan and, in particular, Schorbs were more than up to the task, patiently building at the required run rate and seeing of the opening bowlers without loss.

Carpe’s second wave of bowling struck back in the 13th over. Bremakumar bowled Morgan out for 20 and, two overs later, caught Russon off his own bowling before he had made a run. His third victim, Waters, was despatched to pavilion for 8 and Carpe had their breakthrough.

However, Schorbs remained obdurate and dangerous, rotating the strike regularly with new batsman Falconer in between the occasional contemptuous boundary. As the game continued on wicketless, one could sense the energy sapping from Carpe’s field and the belief and expectation growing from Kingsdon fans and followers.

The runs continued to accumulate as Schorbs passed his half century and before long Carpe had 48 balls to defend a lead of only 25 runs. Most Carpe sides would have folded at this point and accepted their fate. Instead, an inspired piece of bowling from Saunders in his second spell clattered into Schorbs’ stumps and belief flooded back into the fielding side as the opening batsman departed for 83.

Sweltering in the humid heat, Carpe chased every ball and put their bodies on the line to claw back the initiative. The runs began to dry up for Kingsdon and nervousness crept into their batsmen. Saunders grew into his role of match-saver for Carpe, clean bowling the next two Kingsdon batsmen for ducks, while Strong tied down the runs at the other end. Three consecutive maidens were bowled as the pressure built to boiling point.

It wouldn’t be a match between Carpe and Kingsdon without some controversy and, in the penultimate over, it was served up to the expectant teams. One ball into Saunders’ final over, the scorers called from the boundary to inform umpires and players alike that he had already bowled his full requisite of overs. After some discussion, it was decided that as the over had been started it should continue, so Saunders continued with his tenth over. The next ball he took another wicket to bring new batsman R Waters to the crease. He immediately got off the mark with a single.

Falconer, who had survived Saunders’ carnage, rotated the strike again to steal the strike back for the final over. With a mere four runs required to hand victory and the cup back to Kingsdon, everything lay in the balance of Strong’s final over.

The first ball was clipped away for a single, bringing Waters to the crease. He swung and missed, he the ball straight to mid on as the field tightened its net. Strong’s fourth ball, however, floated down the leg side and, with relief more than delight, Waters clubbed it away. No fielder could catch the ball in time and as it scuttled over the boundaries the cheers rose from the pavilion.

Carpe’s hold on the cup had been loosened in one of the greatest games either side has had the pleasure to play. Celebrations at the Thomson’s were heartfelt and long-lasting, but Carpe will surely return with reclamation on their minds next year.