KING’S Road cracked open a Beershire to leave their BITTER rivals tasting defeat.
Victory was brewing from the word go as the on-form Orange Caps put in yet another stout performance.
The Road’s bowlers downed Beershire’s batting in one after being asked to field on their Wandsworth Common fortress.
Super strength seamer Kev Pittaway befuddled opener Dave L by having him caught at point with just 18 on the board.
Then paceman James Couldrey – opening the bowling for the first time this season – had Dave S seeing double when he was trapped lbw just one run later.
Stand-in wickie Manik and middle order bat Simon put on a stubborn 49 before the wheels truly came off the Beershire wagon.
The Road’s miserly medium-pacer Leon Watson had Simon caught behind for four with his special brew of line and length.
Bad boy razor Razon Mazumder then got in on the act removing top scorer Manik for 25 and hapless Stu for a Duff duck.
Beershire’s ale-ing batting line-up were looking light-headed on five for 68 but the middle order started to offer stiff resistance.
A stubborn stand of 27 between Ian and team captain Vidal helped get Beershire back on track as the lower order started to play.
But that partnership was broken when Ian went for a Burton when he was spectacularly run out with a pin-point side-footed shot by Leon.
Batsman Vidal had been pegged back by the bowler, who conceded just 10 runs in six overs spell before and after the drinks break.
And when the run-starved batter tried to nick a quick single Leon booted the ball back into the stumps to run him out.
King’s Road’s fearsome bowlers then made short work of the rest of the innings – despite some spirit-ed resistance.
Beefy Matt Cocken picked up the ball to smash Jason’s stumps after a quick-fire 17 and by that time King’s Road had the Beershire wickets on tap.
Teetotal tinkerman Raju Mazumder was playing Beershire and skittles when he bowled Shaun who tried to heave him. The beefy batsman had hit a rearguard 20 off 15 balls.
Opener James, bowling a Fuller’s length, also got in on the act by castling Vidal for 21. Kev then returned for a second spell to call time on the innings.
The seamer recovered from a comedy moment in the field to have number 10 Neil caught by Jamie Keating to finish with two for 35 off 6.3 overs.
The Road’s reply started badly chasing Beershire total of 174 after another piece of inspired fielding. But the result never seemed in doubt.
Jamie K – opening the batting against his other team – was the wicket Beershire wanted and he lasted just five balls.
The Poet had been the subject of a pre-match tug-of-war between the clubs but was dismissed when Manik bagged a fantastic one-handed on-the-run catch on the leg side.
Pint-sized opener Jamie Smith showed his class steadying the ship to occupying the crease for more than 20 overs and put his side in cruise control.
Matt continued his fine form with the bat to hit a handy 17 off 23 balls before newboy Ian – who was DRAFTed in at the last minute – walked out to the crease.
Playing in the first game for the club and first match for years Ian worked up a head of steam with a brutal 10 fours in his sparkling 44.
A brief wobble saw Rizby Mazumder and Leon back in the pavilion for nought.
But meticulous Dean “The Don” Bradman saw his side home with an untroubled 40 not out off 50 balls to push his season’s average above the magic 100 mark.
He was supported at the last by shame-faced Kev who piled 14 off 13 balls at the death.
King’s Road finally toasted victory when wily veteran Dean hit the winning runs in style with a four to fill the team with London Pride.
After the match Kev tried to explain how he fumbled the ball three times in one attempt – but he left his team-mates none the Budweiser.