BADGERED to death – that’s how King’s Road were killed off in Saturday’s crunch Battersea derby.

The Orange Caps had been gearing up to hunt down their rodent-like rivals and send them packing with their tails between their legs.

But in yet another dismal, dismal display, The Road’s batting crumbled against the Battersea Badgers – and there was no clear, black and white answer why.

Both teams started the day unsure whether the game could go ahead at Wimbledon’s famous Dundonald Recreation Ground because of persistent rain.

Sadly, pre-season rumours that a retractable roof had been installed at SW19 proved unfounded.

However, the drizzle did subside and after a pitch inspection by both sides it was decided to press on with the eagerly-awaited clash.

King’s Road skip Raju Mazumder won the toss and, in a tricky call, the tinkerman decided to put the Badgers in to bat on the soggy wicket.

Right from the off it looked like the right decision, and despite gloomy skies the match started brightly for The Road.

There was plenty of life in the pitch early on for opening pace bowlers James Couldrey and Kevin Pittaway and as the day progressed the surface dried out.

With just eight on the board for the Badgers, seamer Kev bagged the first scalp of the day when Adam Majeed hung onto a cracking catch at deep mid on.

Pete Warman – one of the Badgers most dangerous batsman – was gone.

James then followed that up with the second breakthrough bowling wickie Dickinson for four to leave the Badgers tottering on 19 for two.

What followed though won’t make easy reading for The Road as the burrowing Badgers dug themselves out of trouble.

James struggled to control the swinging new ball and got hit repeatedly down legside by Badgers opener Jan Marchant.

Kev again bowled tidily but was unlucky to have two chances dropped in the field, one by James Pritchard on the cover boundary and one a nick missed by keeper Matt Cocken.

Swing bowler Liam Creedon’s spell was cut short after just two overs when he suffered an ankle injury. And The Road’s talisman Dan Howard – who was also carrying an injury – also had rotten luck.

Bowling off a short run-up, he watched in horror as two catches went down in successive balls off his bowling. Welshman David Hughes was the culprit at backward point.

There were also a series of nicks that went agonisingly wide and spooned shots that dropped into space from all the bowlers that left King’s Road frustrated.

Plucky Marchant – hitting almost exclusively on the leg side – and Barker took full advantage to smack 79 between them.

Eventually, all-rounder Leon Watson broke the partnership just after the drinks break. He snaffed Marchant’s wicket off his own bowling with an easy return catch.

Adam, from the other end, then grabbed his first wicket of the day, trapping Barker lbw just short of his half century on 49.

Then in his next over Leon had Marchant’s other half Louise Hirst caught behind off a thin edge to bag the couple.

Briefly, there was a spark back in The Road’s performance – but it didn’t last long.

Badger Robin Mackrell walked in and immedately set about the bowling like a cornered animal, belting a blistering 44 off 20 balls.

With skip Martin Cloke, run out by David for five, and then Hubbard, who hit 12 before he lifted one to mid on, he took the total to 172.

It was only when Mackrell holed out to Raju – bagging his first wicket of the season – on the legside boundary where Adam lurked that the onslaught was broken.

By then the Badgers looked set to cruising towards a total topping 200.

And after seven from Shone, who became Adam’s third victim, and a quick smash from former skip Andy Thorpe they ended on 210 for nine.

Yet again King’s Road were facing another daunting total inflated by mistakes in the field. Although this time the Orange Caps felt confident they could chase it.

The pitch – despite fears it would cut up after the morning drizzle – held up and provided consistant bounce for the batsman and seam movement for the bowlers.

There were runs there for the taking if The Road’s top order could weather the storm and get the team through to drinks without suffering serious damage.

In dangerman Mackrell they were facing a stiff test though. He tore into the openers right from the off and comprehensively bowled Dave through the gate in the first over for a duck.

Jamie Keating was next in and put on 20 with opener Leon before medium-pacer Marchant got him at the other end.

Leon battled hard to see off the pacy Mackrell – who was extracting prodigious movement off the air and off the pitch.

And when wickie Matt walked in the pair took the attack to the Badgers and looked in control.

Matt battered 32 off 27 balls and Leon stroked 36 in his most aggressive batting performance this season.

Leon’s hopes of making a maiden half-century were dashed when Badger Thomas made the breakthough just before drinks. He had the opener lbw trying to flick the ball legside.

It sparked a familiar King’s Road collapse which sealed the game for their rivals with all the remaining Road wickets tumbling for just 42 runs.

Next to go was Matt four runs later, bowled by the Badgers former skip Andy Thorpe.

Then Man of the Match Thomas stepped in to take three quick wickets and swing the match decisively in favour of the Badgers.

James Pritchard fell after lasting just four balls and Adam managed just three of 12 balls before being caught by Thorpe at fine leg.

Next ball Liam – had tried to launch a fightback with two lustly blows – was caught by Thorpe off Thomas for ten in identical fashion.

And Dan went soon after for ten as the rot really started to set in.

Captain Raju – searching for his first run of the season – lasted eleven balls before being Thorpe’s third victim and Kev went next ball for eight, with both caught by Thomas.

James was left stranded at the non-striker’s end on 0 not out with The Road all out for a disappointing 122.

Thomas and Thorpe both ended the 88-run win with four wickets each and Thomas was named Man of the Match.

The defeat wasn’t quite a horror show for The Road, but the team’s under pressure players will feel they could have won and at least made it a closer match.

Captain Raju Mazumder will rue his side’s familiar story – a series of dropped catches and sloppy fielding followed by a catastrophic batting collapse.

There were crumbs of comfort though – the skip himself getting his first wicket, a return to form for Leon with both bat and ball and three wickets for Adam, who also took two blinding catches.

Next up The Road face the Thespian Thunders in a Twenty20 clash.