Foremarke Hall 200-0 dec. (25.5 overs) S.Anselm’s 43-2 (27 overs)
A marvellous, defensive, determined and character-building partnership between Theodore H and Oliver R which was still unbeaten at 6 p.m. after almost 23 overs of all Foremarke could throw at them secured an unlikely but, in the end, convincing draw for S.Anselm’s in our opening match of the season. Coming in the wake of the highest score made against our U11’s in over 16 years, and the potentially deflating experience of not even taking a wicket, this was all the more credit worthy ... not that I would wish to criticise our bowlers or fielders at all. In light of such stunning opposition batting, I thought you stuck to the task with courage and discipline. I’m very satisfied this evening.Ollie R won an important toss – for ‘new’ parents to U11 cricket I ought to let you know of the lucky 50p piece we’ve used in home U11 cricket matches since 1999. We’ve won 65 tosses and lost just 27. Being a mathematician I know there’s no logic in this! Isaac S started with an aggressive opening three overs and Alex W was on target too, except for one ball an over which went to the boundary. Ollie R brought the batsmen forward with his new off spin but Sookias and Harvey played him ever so well, getting to the pitch, often using their feet, to smother the spin. Elliot T is battling hard to bowl left arm over the wicket rather than around – it is the way to go, but you’re just not quite used to it yet. Jonah G continued to bowl fairly tidily too, but it was simply a case of five good balls being defended or pushed into gaps (perhaps a couple of singles) and the one bad an over going, unerringly, to the boundary. The Foremarke Hall opening batsmen were rarely troubled, there were no appeals, no dropped catches, no balls in the air ... George Riley and Max Pywell have been my best opening pair but they did, on occasions make mistakes! Harvey retired but then Sanders played perhaps the most outstanding cameo I’ve seen in an U11 match. I say again, the bowling was perfectly good for the first week of term, indeed Alex W generated some pace and accuracy – unfortunately Sanders hit him for three successive sixes, over the pavilion and Endcliffe fence to bring up the 200 and Foremarke declared. Whatever the score may suggest, the bowling has made a big improvement in just one week and the fielding was very solid indeed, everything behind the ball, backing up etc ... there might have been a couple of occasions when a fielder could’ve been a little braver, but that’s all. You kept your heads up throughout and I was very pleased.Foremarke declared at 4.08 p.m. ... to give us two overs before tea? (4.15 p.m.) Well, that’s what happened and Jonah G, having kept out three superb fast deliveries was skilfully undone by Sanders as he bowled ball four at half pace and Jonah, through his shot, spooned the ball back to the bowler. Isaac S edged a four and we took tea on 8-1 ... Isaac S, promoted from no.:11 to no.:3 in the absence of the ill Edward S, held Foremarke up for a few very important overs – had he gone quickly too, Foremarke would’ve been all over us, but these overs allowed Ollie R, our best batsman at present, fewer overs of the opening duo to face. This was an important move on our part and it worked ever so well. Theo H didn’t get much of the strike initially, but his defence (if often off the back foot) and judgement of balls to leave around off stump was equal to the task. That’s what we worked on in the nets yesterday against the bowling machine, what to leave and what to play ... little did I know it would have such an immediate impact! Oliver R impressed enormously. He might have had an U11 cricket season in 2009, but this was his first important contribution as a batsman. To hit four bad balls for four, leave anything outside off stump and defend the rest was ever so impressive. What a captain’s knock! You really couldn’t have played any better. Foremarke lacked a spinner to ‘mix things up’ (though the returning Sanders resorted to spin as a last resort). The final word must go to Theo H, however. What a performance! On the field for every ball of the match – that doesn’t happen very often! You concentrated ever so well – even if I have to hand over 27 Haribo (as promised, one for every over you survived!).60 runs in 5 overs on Saturday, 43 runs in 27 overs on Wednesday ... one extreme to the other! We’re learning so much each day. It is a joy to see. Those who didn’t bat today, your time will come ... for those who did, all four of you, you’ll remember your day. 200-0 against, yet marks-wise, 9 out of 10 ... that’s cricket for you. Well done! What a week! JMHF
Posted on
Wed, April 28, 2010
by MAC