Cricket match report: May 2014 Under 11 home match vs Biddestone

Bathford Under 11s put in a magnificent performance in their first match of the new season. It was, pleasingly, a team performance and the hard work that was put in by all last year, and the weekly grind of winter nets, paid dividends as a very decent Biddestone side were put to the sword 297-280 in poor weather conditions. This was no rumble in the jungle – more a mizzling drizzle on the hill. Bathford Captain Luca Press lost the toss but got the result he wanted as Biddestone put Bathford in to bat. This was a wicket that had seen over 300 runs scored on it at the weekend and it stayed true to its billing, serving up delicious balls for all batsmen to sweep, drive and plunder. Sol Faragher and Ben Kirby-Woollett opened the batting, each batsmen hitting two fours in their allotted overs. Sol managed one remarkable shot with a 180 degree swivel and a ball sent backwards that nutmegged the unfortunate Biddestone keeper before flying to the boundary. 225 after four. Luca Press and Ollie Phillips took to the field and stepped on the gas – six fours flew from their bats in four overs, with singles taken ably too. As they walked off nosebleeds were visible as Bathford rocketed to 267 at a run rate over 8 an over. Benjamin Kile and Ollie Brobowski looked less certain, and Biddestone pressed their sudden advantage by taking wickets, but our heroic pair rallied and Mr Kile’s decent form in the nets was brought to the fore, as he stroked a couple of boundaries. 277 after twelve! The final pair came forward, as the rain began to fall and held their nerve to steer Bathford to a score of 297. Thomas Walker led from the front with two fours and some very decent running, his partner at the crease George Waters assisted too with some quick singles. Indeed one really joyful element of the performance was that all Bathford's batsmen scored runs. And now we must credit our opposition, who ignored the drizzle and came forward to make a very decent game of it. In the face of a persistent cascade of water from the sky they made no apology, begged no quarter and batted well. But tellingly it wasn’t until the end of their 8th over that they managed to register their first boundary, and while their scoring remained persistent and seemed at times dangerous, Bathford’s total rarely looked in danger. Even in their last four overs when big hitters Keir and Nick came to the wicket and a suddenly nervy Bathford offered up 10 runs in overthrows, they still looked destined to fall short of the target, and a couple of excellent wickets by the fielding side – a run out and a catch, sealed the victory for Bathford. (Note: Bowling stats are hard to come by as the scoresheet is illegible from rain (see picture). Suffice to say that wickets were taken by all bowlers in a superb display, spearheaded by two great wickets in the first over from Ollie Phillips) A couple of other notes from the margins: well done to Zac Pritchard and Gabriel Faragher from Bathford who uncomplainingly stepped up to play for the opposition when they were players short. And a huge hurrah for our cake and tea providers. Opposition coach Liam described the setup as ‘most civilized’, and he was correct in every way.