Not content with being crowned the best junior age group side two years running in Hertfordshire, our fearless u16s produced a dominant performance on Sunday to win their Essex u16s Matchplay semi final away at Chingford by 6 wickets.

Cricket can be about moments and Harry F and Will H certainly produced two very special ones on Sunday.

Moment 1
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Harry produced consecutive unplayable in-swingers and had the opposition 2 down for no runs inside 3 balls! Brilliantly managed by Will H the rest of the bowlers continued to assert pressure and we took fairly regular wickets to maintain control. Ed W bowled an immaculate line and length on a sloping pitch and ended with 4 wickets for 20 runs from his 6 overs. The rest of the spoils were shared by Harry F (3 wickets), Sam B (2), Will H (1) Alex B and Austen G. The bowlers were well backed-up in the field including Rees G who was effectively fielding one handed having damaged himself keeping the day before. Restricting Chingford to 201 despite their many talented batters was an awesome collective effort.

Moment 2
A total of 201, whilst below par, was never a total to be underestimated and how we started the run chase was very important. Setting the tone was Will H (79) who punished anything short and blasted 22 off the first over! He and Tom F (53) who is having a breakthrough season, went onto post an opening partnership of 131! This was achieved despite facing some quality spin and an Essex u16s bowler. It was a brilliant, measured and mature start to a run chase. All the other batters (Sam B, Ciaran, W, Lewis G and Ed F) chipped in to complete the chase with over 8 overs to go!

So the u16s march onto the final on August 26th looking to become unprecedented champions in two counties!

https://bishopsstortford.play-cricket.com/website/results/7740136