Kings CC- 249-6 dec (Melligan 58*, Pickering J- 4-57) drew with Headley- 210-9 (Mason 51, Moss 47, Moss 20*)

Headley's unbeaten season was kept alive by Malcolm Moss on Sunday, with the veteran left hander heroically holding out for a draw for 10 overs against a strong Kings CC attack. Headley had chased a target of 250 with determination, but with wickets falling at key times as they looked to force the pace, a first defeat of the season looked to be looming. Moss Snr. was having none of it however, emerging at No.10 and looking in fine touch after a 3 year hiatus from the game, timing the ball sweetly in attack, resolute in defence. The years rolled back and the Kings CC simply could not find a way to shift him

Earlier in the day Headley had won the toss and the skipper decided to have a bowl. Having seen the last two games end as slightly dull draws, Midmer was keen for a positive result ahead of next weeks Presidents Day clash, but against a side as strong as Kings CC the decision was bordering on the overconfident. Certainly the Kings skipper seemed delighted with the call and his opening batsmen proceeded to make hay. The key aggressor was a robust left hander, who muscled a variety of shots to the leg side boundary en route to a quickfire 50. His right handed opening colleague was more watchful, but soon took a liking to Dan Church, who was opening the bowling for Headley on his second appearance, and the score raced to 80 without loss in no time. Headley were in need of a breakthrough and it came from Josh Pickering, whose ripping leg breaks quickly saw the end of the right handed opener, well caught in the gully by Pickering Sr. Pickering J removed the Kings No.3 straight after, before the half centurion cut loose and crashed a short delivery from Grant Waller to deep midwicket, where the captain took a sliding catch which almost dirtied his £5 Topshop shirt. At 100-3 the game was open again, but despite the efforts of Pickering J, who continued to bamboozle the Kings batsmen, things just didn't happen for Headley from here on in. The Kings fourth wicket partnership battled hard, and avoided the distractions of Headley's calamitous slip fielding, to nudge their side past the 170 mark, before the No.5 aimed an ill advised swipe at a full toss to hand Pickering J his third wicket. Pickering struck again soon after and again Headley thought they might be in with a sniff. By this time however Kings No.4 James Melligan had played himself in, and he took a liking to the returning Gary Mason, smashing some classy drives over the top to reach a well deserved 50. Mason came off, but his replacement Dan Church fared little better, taking a late pounding from the Kings No.7 whose innings bore an uncanny resemblance to one of Grant Waller's. Having smashed several maximums into the car park, the No.7 would have been licking his lips as James Moss came to bowl the 'declaration' over, but he instead produced a disappointing heave straight to midwicket throat. Midmer ambled in, thought about dropping it, thought about grassing it, but reluctantly gave Moss a first wicket of his career. The Kings closed on a solid 249-6 and Headley had some task on their hands.

In reply, things could not really have started worse for Headley as Gareth Noble departed to leave the score at 6-1. The arrival of Josh Pickering steadied the ship and the returning Vice-Captain was soon displaying a silky touch, manoeuvring the ball over the lightning fast outfield. There was little subtlety from Moss, who shook off his hangover long enough to hit some punishing drives over the top and through square cover. With the two looking assured it was something of a surprise when Pickering was bowled, looking to force through the offside, for a modest 24. Moss was joined by Gary Mason and the pair continued to solidly accumulate to take the score up past 100. Moss was threatening to cut loose, hitting a series of exocet straight drives, prompting the Kings skipper to put a man back by the oak tree. It looked to be a classic stable door / horse bolted decision, but Moss made it look inspired by smashing the very next ball down long off's throat to put the Kings in the driving seat. Mason continued to push onwards, and was joined by two more Pickerings, Mitch and Andy, who both started well but were then bowled by the King's newly introduced off spinner. With the final 20 overs now underway and Headley still a long way off at 130-5 it was left to Grant Waller to inject the innings with some impetus, and he responded well by smashing some huge maximums into the car park and over the pavilion to get the scoreboard moving past 150. Mason continued to look a class act at the other end, and a drive past extra cover brought him a typically classy half century. With 80 now needed from 11 overs the chase was on, but the Kings opening bowler returned to remove Mason with a good delivery which nipped back and took middle stump. The stage was set for a captain's knock but Midmer could not oblige as he dragged another in-ducker on to the stumps and returned to the Wimbledon final with tail firmly between legs. Next to go was 'Flash' Banks, who played around a straight one for 180-8, and when Waller himself then top edged a hook shot, Headley were staring down the barrel at 190-9 with just under 10 overs remaining. They were rescued by a brave last wicket stand between Dan Church and Malcolm Moss, who with victory now out of the equation looked to salvage the draw. Church looked in little difficulty playing out the opening bowler, which Moss handled the introduction of a slippery seamer with what can only be described as consummate ease. The crowd cheered every ball and Headley closed on 210-9.