U11s v Overstone Sunday 19th July 2015
The unchanged Cook’s U11s welcomed Overstone U11s to Compton Park yesterday for a rare home league fixture this summer. On the back of last week’s inconsistent performances, the challenge was to do the basics right. The number of County and District players in the Overstone team would make this a tough assignment.
Having won the toss, the Overstone skipper decided to bat first on the greenish track. The Cooks switched Alex Price to wicket-keeper and George Thompson [fresh from a sterling bowling session with new coach Garratt on Friday night] would bowl for the first time this season.
Overstone’s openers started with confidence but opening bowlers Jake and Keelan bowled with plenty of pace to show their opponents we meant business. In the sixth over, the Cooks got a double breakthrough, as first Liam Morrissey through down the stumps from midwicket for a cracking run out and then Aidan Garratt followed that up next ball, clean bowling his namesake. Liam, Aidan and Sam Tipler bowled tightly as they collectively bowled 6 overs and took 1-19 between them. The important thing was that the extras were being kept to a minimum as the team bowled straight and Alex Price was keeping well. In the field, all of the team made some great stops and the backing up was excellent.
When George came on to bowl, his dad Gary had fingers [and toes] crossed, but there was no need to worry, as George took wickets in his first two overs, one caught by skipper Jake and the other clean bowled. In his three overs, George bowled very well, taking 2-18 and only two wides.
With Anya also bowling straight and without any wides, the team set a season’s best for fewest extras [18] and wides [5], which was really pleasing. Unfortunately, there were seven dropped catches of varying degrees of difficulty, which meant Overstone had set a target of 98. Their last two batsmen were very gifted and put on 59 runs in the last four overs, with one boy hitting five 4s and a 6 in a score of 35no.
The team struggled to get any momentum against the lively Overstone attack and with runs at a premium and having lost a total of 9 wickets, of which four run outs were mainly a result of the desire to try and score quickly than any mis-calling, we were never in the contest. George and Keelan did well to ensure they were the only not out batsmen and the only ones without a negative score, as we totalled 53-9, a net score of 8, and a loss by 90 runs. However, this was nothing to be ashamed of against a well-drilled team.
Although this was the biggest defeat of the season by some way, it didn’t feel like that. The team can all be proud of the way they played against some very good junior cricketers. They can also take pride in the fact that they bowled fewer wides & no balls and gave away fewer extras, a credit to their fielding and bowling.
Once again, thanks to Sid for scoring and Allan for umpiring.
Due to holidays, there will be no practice on Friday 24th July and we have had to cancel Sunday’s match against Old Wellingburians.
Next game is at Saints on Sunday August 2nd.