'Jonathan Pratt leads Kidlington Run Fest'

A good mix of youth and experience saw the 3rd X1 field a powerful side for the visit of Kennington to the Brake today. Hot weather also pointed to batting first and when John Moss won the toss he was delighted to do so.
Jonathan Pratt stepped down from the 1st team to the 3rd's with the express purpose of keeping wicket in the hopes of addressing the rather fluid situation as regards glovemen in the club. Also of course to gain some much needed time in the middle, both aims were achieved but notably the batting where he was to open innings.
Youngster Hasan Ali(0-38) opened the bowling for Kennington with a mixture of long hops and full tosses which Pratt(89) proceeded to punish to the tune of 18 runs and his four overs were very expensive as Jonathan showed some excellent foot work. Magnus Taylor(11) also helped himself to a couple of boundries as Kidlington raced out of the blocks.
Pratt did give one early, rather simple looping chance off Malcolm Barnett(0-31) which Mark Trafford should have taken but the keeper was daydreaming and the gulley fieldsman just failed to catch it running in. That apart Jonathan played a superb innings which saw strokes all round the wicket and included 3x6's and 16x4's as he raced past 50 in the 11th over!
The introduction of Gordon Fogg(3-57) saw the first breakthrough when in that same 11th over he bowled Taylor. 74-1 at that stage and another partnership of 55 in only 8 overs was to follow with Martin Eagle(35) as Pratt continued to dominate. Surely he would get to three figures! Sadly not. The always low bounce undid those hopes as he tried to sweep a scuttling ball from Fogg and was bowled.
John Moss(59 not out) now joined Eagle in another 50 plus partnership before Eagle became Fogg's third victim when he bowled his fellow veteran to end a busy innings.
Moss survived a slightly tentative start and a thin nick behind, to then blossom. No less than 10x4's were struck the best of which were driven beautifully through the covers, as he remained to the end. He lost Ajay Behal(3) along the way, and Paul Hewitt(15)who felt unlucky to be adjudged lbw.
If anything John was slightly upstaged by a murderous innings from Tim Rodway(29 not out) as he repeatedly danced down the wicket to smash 2x6's and 3x4's as the pair plundered 59 runs in the last 5 overs!!
Kidlington 281-5.

This huge total gave Kidlington's young attack plenty to bowl at and it was Malcolm Webb(2-50) and Harry Whitehead(0-32) who opened up. Whitehead was to be wicketless despite some pace and bounce, particularly in his first spell. While Webb removed Phillip Lohan(11) caught by Rodway in the gulley and was very unlucky to have Salas Ali(9) almost caught( a brilliant one-handed effort from Tim Rodway) and then definitely caught at slip off the glove by Martin Eagle, only to be given not out!
These two were replaced by Baiju Saleem(1-34) and Rob Lewis-Crosby(2-29) who both bowled well. Saleem finally bowled Ali all ends up while Crosby removed Barnett(19) via a smart catch at square leg by Magus Taylor, and had Altaf Ali(13)caught by Rodway off a skied top edge.
A real highlight though was an excellent spell from 13yr old Ajay Behal(2-13). What a talent this boy could turn out to be! Pace and control at such a young age. He bowled Tony Tyrer(13) and had Craig Drew(28) well caught by Moss at Mid-on.
Kidlington were pushing hard for maximum points but were unable to achieve it as Gordon Fogg(24) and Mark Trafford(33 not out) almost saw things through before Webb had Fogg caught at slip by Martin Eagle.
Kennington closed on 160-7 and Jonathan Pratt kept for 45 overs which was invaluable practice to go with his batting heroics.
Kidlington won comfortably to gain 28 points.