BSCC U12 B Friendly

Due to the need to move the start time of today’s game, we went into the match with only 10 players, fortunately 4 A team players managed to come in at very short notice to make a 7 a side match. We agreed on an 18 over a side match with all players getting 3 overs each.

We were trying to organise teams when we realised the numbers/level of players were near perfect for a state school vs private school match (with Ben Foster an hounary state school player for the day).

The combined BS College, Haileybury, St Nics and Felsted team batted first with TJ Tyndall getting the game going with an excellent cover drive for 4. Unfortunately Jake Curtis didn’t start as well as his partner as he survived one very tight stumping appeal, only to be stumped the next ball off Ben’s pad. Fraser Swanson was next, and he was unlucky to be bowled, playing onto his stumps off Severin Fleet, who was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-4 off his 3 overs. TJ was them ran out for 9 from an excellent direct hit from Charlie Laking. Harry Thompson came in at No.4 hit a fantastic sweep shot for 4 off Fraser Hardie, only for Fraser to then bowl him next ball. That meant the A team players needed to step up to score a very good total and they did. Omar Sain, Henry Hawkins and Harry Pigram all retired and batted excellently, displaying some very good cricket shots, along with the odd agricultaral slog. The private school side finished with 132-4 off their 18 overs.

The combined TBSHS, Hockerill, Birchwood (plus one BS College) team’s reply started well with a 50 partnership from Charlie Fair and Oscar Gouldson, Charlie eventually fell for 12, before Fraser Hardie chipped his first ball back to the bowler to give TJ Tyndall 2 wickets in 2 balls. The next over, Oscar Gouldson was stumped for 17 from quick glovework from Harry Thompson off Jake Curtis. A couple of balls later Sev Fleet was caught for 0 before Luca Barnes got bowled first ball, meaning Jake had 3 wickets in an over. Extraordinarily, that meant Charlie Laking came into the face the hat-trick ball from Jake, where he scored a single, to them face another hat-trick ball from TJ Tyndall (having time wickets with his 5th and 6th ball of his previous over). Charlie and Ben Foster then combined to put another good partnership on before Harry Pigram comprehensively bowled Charlie round his legs for 13. Ben went on to retire for an excellent 27*. It all came down to the last over, where Harry Pigram managed to defend 9 to give the private school side the win.

Whilst there were a couple of behavioural issues at the end of the match, it was an enjoyable game where every player got a good bat and bowl. Thanks to Simon Hawkins for umpiring!

We now move onto the final whole squad match on Friday 30th August, where I hope to see as many players and parents as possible to celebrate the season.