Tonbridge prevail through powerhouse Patel

Kings Hill CC 2nd XI - 171 All Out

Tonbridge CC 1st XI - 173 for 3

Tonbridge made it back to back wins last week following a comfortable seven wicket victory over Kings Hill at Poplar Meadow.

Having won the toss, Kings Hill elected to bat, but were left reeling after both openers were dismissed in the first four overs. Soon after, the heavens opened, and the players would have to wait for two hours until taking to the field with the score on 12 for 2. The visitors came out firing with Nathan Faulkes and Ben Taylor, who both went at a run a ball for the next five or six overs, helping Kings Hill past the 50 mark. Taylor would chase a wide one from Nadeem Shehzad and depart for 22 soon after. He was replaced by Robert Whitfield (28) who rotated the strike well with Faulkes and took the score into three figures. Two wickets in the over from Ben Peters (2 for 38) would halt the Kings Hill progress as he first bowled Faulkes for 57, then had Whitfield caught behind shortly after. Ryan Ambanpola and Aleeyan Akber pushed the total on, but both were removed by thr returning Chirag Patel (3 for 25) who once again was deadly in his second spell. Two late run outs as well as a wicket for Khurram Shehzad would close out the innings, leaving Tonbridge with 172 for victory.

The home side came flying out the blocks, with Patel following up his excellent bowling display with two boundaries in the first over to set the tone for the innings. His opening partner Julius Marshall would fall to a diving caught and bowled effort from Mick Boreham, but that would deter Patel who would continue his onslaught. Now joined by Martin Snow, the two would put on a swift 74 run partnership, and in turn take Tonbridge past the 100 mark. Patel was eventually dismissed by Ambanpola for 66, but his innings certainly put the side in a strong position to win the game. With a third wicket falling soon after Patel's, Kings Hill perhaps had an opening, but Tonbridge skipper Mike Jessop was absolutely ruthless from ball one, hitting 33 not out in 22 balls to take his side over the line. Snow would remain undefeated on 38.

Tonbridge travel to Offham this weekend hoping to make it three wins in a row.