Fuller's League Second XI Division One

Kempton II 131

Woodmansterne II 132-2

AFTER fumbling the final pass last weekend, Woods seconds were in no mood to do so again and squander the promotion a hard competitive season had made a possibility.

So it was especially pleasing to secure a convincing eight-wicket victory to claim promotion – it needed to be, as three of the four chasing teams also won.

Winning the toss, skipper Hiren Patel took one look at the damp green wicket and opted to bowl first, opening with Peter Aldous and Martin Corbett.

A disgruntled Aldous struggled with his footing and had to be removed after only two overs, being replaced by Alex Squires.

Corbett had Porter bowled and Widdrington lbw for a 27-ball duck. Squires struggled to control the extravagant movement and variable bounce, making the normally immaculate keeping of Leaver look shoddy for once.

With almost 20 overs gone and only two wickets taken Patel introduced slow bowlers Ollie Houghton and Jason Hiscox, who picked up Palekar's wicket, caught by Chirag Patel at point (one of his three catches).

Neville followed playing over a Hiscox slower ball and then Hiscox really put the kibosh on the innings by removing a hampered Trevor Warne leg-before.

Houghton bowled a fine spell (0-41 off 13 overs) as Miller spilled a comfortable chance at slip and his doosra just slid past off stump.

Hiscox kept getting rewards – a succession of batsmen chipped gently swinging balls to fielders or missed the 'other one' – returning a career best 7-20 off 15.

Corbett (3-33) was recalled and had his revenge on Natarajan for slapping him over midwicket when a similar attempt resulted in a skied ball to Miller at cover.

The reply began well enough, with Hiren Patel and Robbie Joyce patient but still positive.

Ian Miller defended the good balls and pummelled the bad on his way to 50, while Joyce (34) was generally looking unflustered (one easy drop at slip notwithstanding) until an innocuous ball from Dylan Patel sneaked through his defences to end his innings leaving Woods on 107-2.

Chirag Patel (6no) provided sensible support to Miller (60no).