Stoke’s Sunday XI continued a memorable weekend for the Club by reversing an earlier defeat to Kingstonian.

On arrival Ks advertised themselves as weaker than when the last sides met as their league players had reached the T20 Finals Day, so were keen for Stoke to have a bat when the coin was tossed. For the record it was a win.

Malcolm Dickson was an early departure to a leg before decision given by player umpire Geoff Vinall; but this was debutant Singh’s – and his team’s – only early success.

Deepak Malhotra and Carel Ferriera saw him off and then tucked into some moderate change bowling, taking Stoke the verge of 100 when Ferreira was stumped for 47. The pair had to do a lot of running with large boundaries.

Late call up Arman Zaheen played patiently to make the most of his chance; but a 67 partnership still came in good time. Having gone past 50, Malhotra Snr looked to be walking towards a hundred, taking all the singles on offer, so it was a surprise to many that he was then stumped for 74 with lots of overs left having missed one of Jacobs’ grenades.

The Finch brothers moved the score past the 200 mark, (Chris 15, Stephen 12), before they, Rod Thomson and Aarav Malhotra sacrificed themselves in the closing overs in the pursuit of quick runs.

Vinall walked out to face the last ball of the innings which he clubbed back over the bowler’s head for four to lift the total to an over-par 232 for 7. Zaheen walked off unbeaten on 40, a career best for him in any form of cricket. Good things happen to nice people. He will be an excellent club man.

After tea Andy Butler and Aarav Malhotra bowled well at the openers; one of whom played against Stoke’s 2s in the League fixture; but he was pressured by the latter into serving up a catch for Ralph Coleman at mid-on. No.3 Wheatcroft was given little opportunity to score by Stoke’s openers and first change Ferreira benefited as he was caught on the circle by Malhotra Jnr trying to hit out.

41 for 2 and Stoke were in good shape but Singh, who made an unbeaten 89 when the sides met last time, was at it again, punishing anything loose. He needed someone to stay with him, and young No.3 Karvin Saravanan did just that, growing gradually into his innings.

Vinall and Thomson bowled economically – and well – up to the drinks break to keep Stoke in control, but the break did Stoke no favours as the batsmen worked out what they needed per over and played accordingly.

An untidy 2-3 overs when play re-started saw Butler and Malhotra Jnr recalled, and both delivered…Butler – the undisputed best player in the family in this match with his brother restricted to a watching brief with Dad due to school commitments – got a deserved wicket when Singh played on for 69; and in the next over Malhotra Jnr doubled his count when Patel hit tamely to Ferreira in the covers. 108 for 4 and Stoke were back on track.

But Kingstonian came hard again; Karvin Saravanan running everything and his namesake Sharu Saravanan dealing in boundaries; being particularly severe on Coleman who served up a lot of scoring opportunities; so things were starting to swing back towards the hosts.

However mid-way through what was going to be – and was – his last over; both Saravanans skied catches to Dickson and Ferreira off successive deliveries; and next ball the senior pro missed a straight, easily defendable one; thus completing the most burgled hat-trick in history and repair figures of 3.2-0-33-0 to 3.5-0-33-3 – make no mistake; this was a Stephen Finn at the MCG sort of triple, not a Darren Gough at the SCG one. Cricket, bloody hell.

So 162 for 7 and the tail starting to appear, Thomson and Malhotra Jnr came back to complete their allocations. The latter also took wickets in successive deliveries. Kalaravy was bowled playing back to one that kept low; then next ball Jacobs served up a catch to Dickson at short cover who juggled it several times before parrying it up in the air where Coleman, at silly point, gleefully completed the dismissal to be involved in five of the nine wickets to fall to that point. Cricket, bloody hell again.

Malhotra Jnr missed the chance for the 5-for when young Leah Bradley bravely kept out his last two deliveries. Nevertheless he could be very pleased with his contribution to the defence of the total; final figures of 8-3-14-4 standing out a mile compared to all the other bowlers in the match.

In the next over Thomson got his revenge on young Leah by shattering her stumps off his last ball to complete a 54 run win. The early deliveries in the over sticking – as many did – in the gloves of Deepak Malhotra who completed a good day for the family with a tidy performance behind the stumps.

A great day and good fun had by all in nice September sunshine. Thanks to Ks who were as always, good hosts and played it the right way.

As for Stoke, September friendlies are very hard to secure, so get your availabilities in asap please and we’ll see what we can do to extend the season.

Scorecard : https://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4081951