U10s v St Margaretsbury

Our opponents won the toss and chose to field fist. We started slowly with Tate and Max and were knocked back as they were both out in their 4th over, Toby and Robert followed where one good boundary was cancelled out by a wicket but wayward bowling helped us to 211. Edward and Lotty added much needed urgency with their running and only for 2 wickets to fall in their last over as well leaving us on 225. Matthew and Luca were also out once each but good boundaries carried us to a 240 final total which really did not seem like enough. A wicket for Toby in his first over and for Robert first ball set the tone for the chase as we put them under pressure with tight bowling. A great catch and a run out throw from Robert was the highlight of Max and Lotty's accurate spell as the score was limited to 210 after 8 overs. Luca bowled a good spell and Edward took another wicket so 17 runs were needed from the last 4 overs and when Matthew cleaned bowled their captain we should have been home and dry but sloppy fielding and a couple of wides got them right back in it with 7 required from the last over. Toby bowled tight but a single and a wide meant a boundary was needed from the last ball - a good hit appeared to be heading for the ropes but Matthew managed to stop it inches short and fizzed in a good return, collected by Lotty and passed quickly onto Tate behind the wicket and the bails were removed just in time to deny the third run and a possible tie. An exciting victory!!
The U10 s are starting to show good improvements in their fielding and bowling much straighter but we still need to work on a positive attitude to batting and running between the wickets.