Big Team Performance Sees KCC Make The Final

After winning the toss, KCC skipper Richard Walker didn't hesitate to bat first on a new wicket knowing it would get harder to bat on like it did in the previous meeting between the sides. Andy Oliver and Simon Smith opened the batting but when Oliver was ran out after a mix up KCC were on 16/1 after 6 overs. Muhammad Usman joined Smith after being promoted up the order, after a few early nerves, he showed Walker was right to have faith in him as he single handedly destroyed the Kilkenny bowling. Anything over pitched was smashed straight and anything slightly short was pulled to the boundary. Smith was next out trying pull a ball slightly to full and was bowled meaning Chris East joined Usman fresh after his 91 here the previous week. The pair added 60 valuable runs as the score went past 140 in the 30th over, Usman holed out after some more huge shots down the ground with Waseem Azad joining East in the middle, the pair added another 30 runs before East was out caught mistiming a big shot. Craig Woods was run out after hitting a couple of boundaries in a mix up with Azad before KCC lost 2 wickets for 0 runs as Richard Walker and John Pratt were both out in quick succession! Dan Farrant was out stumped before Razwan Dogar and Michael Tippett both were caught in the deep as KCC were all out for 224 in the 42nd over!

After tea Kidlington knew they needed to bowl well to defend an average total on a decent wicket with a quick outfield! Dan Farrant opened along with Muhammed Usman and when Farrant had J.Bishop caught by Waseem Azad at first slip on the 3rd ball of Kilkennys innings, Kidlington were off to a flyer! However the steady C.May and counter attacking steadied the ship and with Usman struggling for his line and length, Keyes took the attack to him as he single handedly took Kilkenny to 55/1 inside 10 overs. Usman was replaced by Michael Tippett who started superbly bowling a brilliant line and length with great control! Farrant took the big wicket of Keyes as a slower ball deceived the big hitter and went on to hit leg stump! Farrant could have had 2 in 2 but he shelled a sharp caught and bowled effort off of D.Bishop. However ApFarrant had his man when Bishop played on 2 overs later, leaving Kilkenny struggling on 60/3 in the 15th over. Farrant came off for East as he and Tippett bowled a brilliantly in the middle overs to all but secure the game for Kidlington! With runs coming slowly for Kilkenny, Tippett had T.Valentine stumped by the superb John Pratt behind the stumps, before bowling J.Trinder with one the seamed and hit off stump! With the score on 100/5 in the 28th over, Kilkenny skipper T.Poole needed to push along with opener C.May but when East had him caught and bowled and clean bowled J.Macdonagh, things began to look bleak for Kilkenny. B. Bryant offered some resistance but when May was caught by Farrant at cover off of East the game was almost done! Farrant and Usman returned to bowl the remaining overs for Kidlington. A brilliant run out from John Pratt removed B.Bryant as he hit the stumps after sprinting to gather the ball from his keeping position.Farrant finally wrapped the game up for KCC having Ryan caught at cover by Azad after he mistimed a drive from another slower ball. Kilkenny finished on 160 all out in the 40th over and KCC secured a memorable victory and their place in the Telegraph Cup Final on the 30th August at E&W Hendred CC!