U12s edge Hitchin with last ball wicket!

Persistent drizzle was not enough to put off the u12s on a very damp Sunday afternoon. What a game we had! More slips than you would normally find on a cricket pitch, runs and wickets a plenty and we even had a case of dog stopped play!

Skipper Will T won the toss and chose to bat. The main thought being that surely the rain would stop at some point and the ball would dry out to enable easier bowling and fielding! Innings highlights included some great straight shots from Jack T, super running from Grace and Max M and lusty blows from Conran, Joe F and Ed W. Focus was on positive calling and aggressive running. We get better every match. Again we lost no wickets in the last two pairs which helped us add 52 runs from those 8 overs to end with 279 for 5.

At some point a dog then appeared on the pitch followed by a dog walker who to put it mildly did not seem to have total control of her canine friend! Eventually we continued with the cricket and unfortunately the rain continued too! Despite an early wicket we were a little wayward with our bowling (wet ball) although Jack bowled with real pace and Grace look a fine wicket with the last ball of her two overs. The opposition were noticeably stronger than last time we had seen them play against the Eagles and boundaries began to flow. The boundaries were aided by some sloppy fielding, so we’ll be working on getting behind the ball to stop runs. Conran and Joe took 3 quick wickets between them to slow the opposition’s progress however with 4 overs to go they needed just 8 runs for the win. Ed W and Will (now with pads off and relieved of ‘keeper duities) took two wickets for 12 runs in 3 overs meaning (with -5 for a wicket) Hitchin needed just 6 to win off the last 6 balls! It then went….wicket, four, single, single, four…leaving the scores tied with 1 ball to go. Would Will T hold his nerve? The last ball was a low(ish) full toss. The batter played, he missed and screams of delight from the Sloggers meant we had 10 very happy, if drenched, cricketers at the end. A great game, a great advert for cricket, a great example of getting the game on for the kids and a great opposition team who play in the same spirit as we do!