Horton House U11s were the visitors to Compton Park on Friday night for a rearranged fixture due to the car boot [literally one car boot!] sale on Sunday.
For the fifth straight game, skipper Jake won the toss and Horton were batting. The prospect of a full game was in the balance as the clouds began to gather.
The Horton openers were stifled by a great first four overs from Liam, Jake, Aidan and George, as Horton were 5-2 after 4 overs, a net score of minus-5. In fact, it wasn’t until the 7th over that the first wide was bowled, a significant improvement in the overall bowling from the team the last couple of weeks.
At the halfway mark, Horton were 38-6, a net score of +8 and the fielding was backing up the bowling with some excellent catches from Liam [2] and Jacob. Aidan Garratt [2-9] also claimed his first wickets of the season, as did Jacob Reeve [2-21] with a pair apiece. George ‘Tavare’ Thompson also took 2-9 and one apiece from Liam and Jake capped the best bowling performance in a number of years from the team.
Unfortunately, the Horton batsmen began to play some nice shots and the extras started to creep in, with some poor backing up costing runs as well. This led to Horton posting 93-8, which was a net score of 53, which was a lot higher than it should have been at the halfway point.
A slight change in the batting order and Aidan and Jake made their way to the crease as the light began to fade quite significantly. Knowing 14 runs a pair would win it, a solid start was needed. This was looking likely until Jake spooned up a catch to square leg and we were 13-1 [net 8] at the quarter mark. Shot of the day had to be Aidan’s sublime cover drive for 4 which was good to see given all of the offside practice we have had over the last month.
Next pair of George and Mohit Hellan were asked to bat sensibly and they did just that as Horton’s extras count went above our own and the score at the halfway point was 33-1 [net 28] and we were on course for a famous victory, with 25 needed.
Jacob and Anya Neal were asked to soak up the pressure and ensure that the finishers of Prashil and Liam were within 20 of the target with the last 4 overs left. They both blocked well and took the singles when needed, so that the last pair required 18 from the last 4 overs, which we were confident of achieving.
Unfortunately, Charlie ‘Michael Fish’ Bryant had predicted with the first few spits of rain that the heavens were about to open, and did they just. Within 10minutes, the cricket field resembled Pitsford Reservoir and the game had no chance of finishing, much to Prashil and Liam’s disappointment.
A close finish was in prospect, but the fact that the team was disappointed was a sure sign that we are now competing well with the larger clubs, in fact I was very confident that we would have closed the game out. Finishing having only lost one wicket, taking several catches and 8 wickets definitely felt like we are developing really well as the season reaches the last month.
Thanks to Charlie for umpiring and Ben for scoring. Next U11s match will be on Sunday 19th June [at Heyford]