KELLY College first eleven shared a draw with a strong Headmaster?s Invitation XI on June 4. For the invitation side, Headmaster of Exeter School Chris Alcock led the way with 76, supported by 59 from Kelly?s senior coach, Adrian Smerdon, and an entertaining fast 30 from Nick Folland. Although Kelly never looked like chasing their visitors? total (204-3) Andrew Reader led the defence with 40, and Kelly secured the draw at 143-5.
In their junior teams, Kelly enjoyed a hat-trick of victories over Liskeard Community School. In the U15s, batsmen Oliver Thomas (55) and Tyler Shannon (50) were instrumental in helping Kelly post an impressive 157-5 from 25 overs. Liskeard were never on target in their run chase, closing on 68-7.
At U14 Kelly?s George Webb dominated with bat and ball. His figures of 5-21 were the main reason Liskeard were bowled out for 69 and, in reply, George?s 38 was also the highest innings as Kelly overhauled Liskeard?s total with 7 wickets in hand.
In the U13 game, Kelly?s bowlers proved too strong for Liskeard, dismissing the visitors for 41, with Sam Twaites (4-9), Miles Amery (2-3) and Jack Newton (2-4) posing particular problems for batsmen. To complete a sound all-round performance, Sam Twaites was top score with 20 as Kelly eased to 6-wicket win.
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Oliver Thomas and Tyler Shannon, each with 4 wickets for few runs, seemed to have won Kelly?s U15 match against Eggbuckland College when they bowled out the visitors for 56. But Eggbuckland made Kelly work hard in reply, only arriving at their target with 3 wickets to spare.
Possibly the most remarkable game was at U14 level, Eggbuckland bowling and fielding impressively to restrict Kelly to 76 all out with 8 of their overs remaining. At 47-2, Eggbuckland seemed to be coasting to victory until George Webb (3-16) and Sam Willetts (3 wickets for 1 run in 2 overs) turned the match completely around, dismissing the visitors for 56.
A less even contest took place in the U13s. Kelly?s total of 197-0 being remarkable in that four batsmen were used, Patrick Jeynes (70 not out) and Nathan Probert (30 not out) being retired in favour of Jack Newton and Sam Twaites, who then made 42 not out and 25 not out. Eggbuckland?s total of 25 (Sam Davy taking 4-6) is an indication of why Kelly remain unbeaten at this level so far this season.
Kelly College Old Boys seemed to be heading for a competitive score when they reached 50 for no wickets well before lunch on Saturday. But with the introduction of Will Grainger (5-19) and U15 leg-spinner Greg Johnston (3-10) into the attack, wickets fell steadily and the Old Boys collapsed to 128 all out.
On this pitch, this score was never going to be good enough, a fact emphasised as Kelly overhauled the total with 9 wickets and time to spare. Tom Partridge (55 not out) and Will Davis (51 not out) both made their season?s best scores in the chase.