Tufnell the hero once again
On an overcast July day Studley won the toss and elected to bat on a featherbed wicket at the KMCG. It took until the completion of the first delivery to see them rueing the decision as their opening bat spooned a catch to Tufnell at mid-off. It was to prove his day. From then on the Studley batting made laboured but steady progress against tight bowling from opening duo Fraser and Goldsmith. A double bowling change brought Fettes and Blackburn into the attack and after a couple of warm-up overs the wickets began to tumble as Studley collapsed from 72-1 to 126-7 at the close. Tufnell and the big cheese taking 3 and 2 wickets respectively.
What should have proved to be a straightforward run chase proved trickier than expected partially due to concentration wavering towards events at Lords and although Pickles, taking the openers slot once more, crafted a classy 33 KMCC found themselves in deep trouble at 82-6 when Tufnell strode out to the crease to join Goldie with only 10 overs remaining. Taking the game by the scruff of the neck the 7th wicket pairing made a mockery of all that had gone before grabbing quick singles and thrashing the bad ball and with 5 runs required off the last over a quick single and a four through midwicket saw KMCC ease home with 3 balls to spare, Goldsmith 20no, Blackburn 21no. The halfway point in the season sees KMCC sitting pretty with 36 points - their best ever haul at an equivalent stage in the 2nd Division