RAMPANT King’s Road romped to their third straight victory as Sham de Silva led from the front to smash a stunning maiden century against the East End’s Bloody Lads.
This season’s run machine finished unbeaten on 127, an agonising 1 run short of the club record top score of 128* set by Tom Barnes in 2009, as The Road won by 130 runs.
Following a week of torrential rain that wreaked havoc on the Battersea Park pitch, the storm clouds had parted on just in time to make Saturday’s game possible.
The Road’s skip James Couldrey won the toss and elected to bat first on a still soggy wicket and almost immediately the South Londoners were put to the sword.
The Lads drew first blood with opening bowler Henry Simmons removing Raju Mazumder with an unplayable delivery before having Jack Caesar, who was awarded his club cap before the start, caught behind.
With the Road teetering at 9 for 2, golden oldie Giles Fagan strode to the crease and together with Sham de Silva set about building a remarkable partnership to resurrect the innings.
The pair plundered runs at will with Sham riding his luck following a dropped catch on 25 and Giles scoring some sumptuous boundaries, including a spectacular straight 6 on his way to 71 off 78 balls.
By the time Giles was bowled by a zooter from the impressive Simmons, who finished with 3 for 14 off 8, the pair had put on 164 runs to put King’s Road in a commanding position at 174 for 3 off 26 overs.
Following Giles’ dismissal, the Lads scented blood and claimed another quick wicket with Joe Ridout trapping Dan Sherman lbw for 1.
With the run rate faltering Sham took the attack to the bowlers, passing the magical 100 mark in the 32nd over. But The Road lost Chris MacNichol, for 5, and then Leon Watson, 2.
In the final overs Guru Prasad played some audacious shots on his way to 12 before being bowled by the Ridout who, along with Simmons, stood out as the pick of the Bloody Lads bowlers.
Sham finished the innings unbeaten on 127 off 116 balls as King’s Road posted a formidable 261 for 7.
Faced with a daunting task, the Lads – formerly Hawksmoor CC – crumbled and could only muster 131 as The Road ran out winners by a massive 130 runs.
by 130 runs against the East End’s Bloody Lads led by