After rain won the previous week, Kenton welcomed Winchmore Hill to the Alan Digby Ground. The boys were eager to get out there after not getting a ball in the week before and a clash which saw both sides level on points in 4th position.

Kenton lost the toss and were sent in to bat, on a day which was overcast and appeared to be bowler friendly conditions, the boys knew that first 10 overs of the game would be crucial.

Things started off in the worst possible way, losing Schops in the first over for a duck. Saj followed shortly after and we were in huge trouble when Abbas was dismissed at the score at 14-3.

A partnership was needed at this stage and fresh back from his engagement and dentist appointment, Akshay joined Kalps at the crease. Both ran well between the wickets, slotted away the bad balls and begun to shift the pressure back on the Winchmore.

The pair combined brilliantly to put on a 122 run stand for the 4th wicket at a time the team desperately needed it. When Akshay fell caught behind to the keeper after a well made 45, Owen joined Kalps at the crease.

They both seemed comfortable until Owen knicked one behind and an LBW shout saw Hem head back to the changing room soon after.

Kalps however was a man on a mission. With his first child due in a few weeks, you could see the determination on his face to score his hundred. He batted beautifully and rode his luck but when it is your day it is your day. He brought up a well deserved ton after a pull down legside for a boundary.

He was dismissed soon after reaching three figures and managed to put on 236-9 off our 55 overs.

On to the defence and things started off well with Dyls striking in the first over. After Asif took a brilliant caught and bowled, we felt we were really on top of the game.

Kalps struck to remove the dangerous Jim Gatting with a delivery that just clipped the off stump. Dyls then struck twice quickly to leave Winchmore 70-5 and Kenton sensing blood.

As Dyls rang the changes, Hem was introduced into the attack and also struck in his first over removing the set bat on 40. 92-6.

Kenton looked to be in control as it appeared Winchmore had shut up shop. As they managed to put together 51 for the 7th wicket.

Desperately needing wickets and overs running out, Asif was brought back in to the attack and managed to break the partnership.

Heath Shields had other ideas as he began to go after our bowlers and suddenly that winning draw total looked achievable.

With 9 runs needed for the winning draw, Asif bowled Forrester to set up a tense finish. Next ball Asif cleaned up Newman to leave Kenton 1 wicket away from victory and Winchmore still needing 9 runs.

As number 11 walked out to face the hat trick ball, he was probably the calmest man on the ground at that point. He safely navigated through the over and handed over strike to Shields.

Shields managed to knock off the remaining runs for the winning draw in his innings of 69* and the boys agreed that he played a seriously good knock to get his team 4 points.

Overall, a very good cricket match and one that went down to the wire. Kenton felt unlucky but also recognised that we probably did all we could to get maximum points having played the better cricket through the majority of the day but sometimes it just isn’t meant to be.

Shout out to Kalps and Akshay for their partnership to get us out of trouble with the former reaching a well deserved ton. Asif and Dyls bowled well up top so there are definitely some positives to take from this game.

The 1s travel to Ealing Trailfinders in a game which we are looking to bounce back. Feels a while since we’ve won so 10 points minimum from the lads please.