A buccaneering innings of 84 not out by Mark Symonds, built on Simon Mayes' more measured 55, put Kenya Kongonis on the road to a comfortable four-wicket victory over Cross Arrows at Lord's, the home of cricket in London, on Tuesday (Sept 29).
Set 239 to win, the Kenyans reached the target with more than four overs to spare, Toby Briggs thrashing 47 in the closing stages to bring Kongonis up with the run rate.

Cross Arrows started well and, after 25 overs, were 134 for 2; after 35 they were 198 for 5, but the accurate bowling of slow left-armer Simon Prodger (4-41) and young spinner Jake Allcock-Ward (3-40) reduced this to 222 for 8, then to 238 all out in the 44th over. The other wickets were grabbed by Briggs, Alex Cudworth and Tim Davy.

In their reply Kongonis got off to an inauspicious start when openers Neil Trestrail and Allcock-Ward were both back in the pavilion with only 25 on the board. But Mayes and Martin Smith (17) showed patience and batted steadily, to give Kongonis a platform from which, on 139 for 4 off 35 overs, they were able to chase down the 100 runs required for victory off less than the 15 overs left.

Captain for the day Simon Prodger said afterwards: "It was a good win against a decent side on a wicket that was a little more difficult than it appeared. It was particularly pleasing that this was done with what was a youngish side. It bodes well for the future."

Indeed the victory brought to an end a good season in England for Kenya Kongonis. Their initial victory over Charterhouse Friars on July 5 was followed by a 10-match 'tour' in which three games were won, three drawn, two abandoned and only two lost.
The senior side's performance has been a good reflection of the Kongonis Development side's progress in Division One of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association's revamped league, where there have been some notable performances.

Cross Arrows: 238 all out (S. Prodger 4-41, J. Allcock-Ward 3-40)
Kenya Kongonis: 239 for 6 (M. Syminds 84*, . Mayes 55, T. Briggs 47).
Kenya Kongonis: N. Trestrail, P. Allcock, S. Mayes, T. Briggs, M. Smith, M. Symonds, S, Prodger, J. Allcock-Ward, N. Wright, A. Cudworth, T. Davy.
(Kenya Kongonis p12, w5, d3, l2, a2).

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