u12s Sloggers come up 4 runs short against Broxbourne's finest

On a green wicket under thick cloud u12 Sloggers could not quite get over the line against Broxbourne A team. Winning the toss and bowling first we did not quite take advantage on the new ball especially as we conceded 14 byes across the innings! The opposition's run rate was generally kept to a reasonable level with Sam B and Ed W only conceding 3 runs from their 2 over spells. However our tendency to drift off in the field at times and bowl those one or two loose balls an over hurt us. We were also undone by their no. 8 coming in an bludgeoning his way to 18 at a point where we felt they should have been restricted to less that 100. There were hi-lights. Good catching from Byron (2) and Conran took a ball hit so high it came down with snow on! Wickets were shared between Alex B, Thomas A, Ed F, Toby and Conran took two largely through being brave enough to keep giving the ball some air despite the aggressive intent from their batters. 115 was 10-15 more than it should have been.
In reply, despite Thomas being unluckily bowled off his pads, we looked on course. Sam combined technique with the odd flourish, but it was Toby who really shone. I doubt I will see a better innings this season. Against a seriously good bowling attack Toby hit some beautiful shots straight and through the covers. The middle of his bat must have seemed a mile wide and he dominated the opposition's bowling attack. He, of all our players, did not deserve to be on the losing side. Once Krish was out to one which swung late we laboured in those middle overs and unfortunately could not build on the foundations laid by Sam and Toby. Despite some spirited late hitting and running from Eddie F and Byron, we ended up 4 short and at the end reflected on those loose balls, misfields, fielders drifting away from their positions and subdued batting the the middle overs. There were lots of positives and this was a good opposition team, however to turn these games into wins it will be those fine margins and consistency of performance that will get us there.