Wield U9's vs Eversley U9's, Saturday 18th May
Another glorious day dawned on Wield: the sun was up, the dew rapidly evaporating, the skylarks singing, an orange-tip butterfly flew by (the first of the season) and all was well with the world.
At ease and ready for another game at Wield the crowds arrived and we were underway promptly at 1000. Eversley started strongly, their first pair only lost one wicket, an excellent run out in Edward’s first over and the score stood on a healthy 215. Wield turned on the heat with Gilbert and Charlie, Gilbert re-arranging the stumps twice with quick and unplayable balls and Charlie took one in his last over. The score was pegged back to 221. Oliver and Ellie arrived and Oliver broke the back of the opposition with two wickets in his first over, one a well held catch. Ellie kept the runs down and Wield were set up for the final four overs. Barney blasted through with two catches in his first over but didn’t quite make the hat-trick, making up for it by bowling a third in his second over. Wilf supported with one in each of his overs, neatly pulling off the trick we have seen already this season of removing the batsman’s middle stump on the last ball of the innings. Five wickets later and Eversley were back where they started at 215, but with 11 wickets down. The fielding was text-book: good backing up and throws in to the stumps and great catches taken by taken by Charlie, Gilbert and Edward.
A delicious tea-break complete with flapjacks and cake (provided by Emma) to mirror a Wield Seniors’ Tea and we were quickly back at the crease. Edward and Sam matched Eversley’s opening four overs to 215 but without losing a wicket. Wilf and Barney arrived and in their enthusiasm lost a wicket each but more than made up for it with 14 and 7 scored respectively, finishing in the positive. Wilf belted a six out of the ground and Barney a four. The score ticked over to 230. Gilbert and Charlie arrived, took their cue from the others and plundered fours lifting the score to 254 and possibly out of reach. Captain Ellie arrived steading the innings with her second six of the season and totalling 9 and and Oliver who sadly slipped a wicket in the third over. However, with extras to help lift the score we finished on 268-3, a warm result for a warm morning.
Gilbert’s outstanding quick reactions in the field, his catch and 12 NO followed by a two wicket bowling spell marked him out for Man of the Match this week but the performance was a team effort as ever and the win well deserved.
Rupert Cazalet