Basingstoke B U9's vs Wield U9's, Sunday 6th July
Basingstoke, 247-5 were beaten by Wield, 283-5
Our second to last game of the season and after the rain of Saturday I was worried whether we were going to get a game or not. However, come Sunday morning the skies had cleared and we gathered at the historic May’s Bounty ground in Basingstoke. The swifts were wheeling and screaming over the pitches, set out for multiple games as the Magnificent Seven from Wield were joined first by Tom from Basingstoke and then after a couple of overs Uday to make up the full 8. Harry too played with us for the first time, late in the season and our two Junior Juniors were with us again: Thomas and Alexander, both coming on nicely. Having won the toss as usual Wilf put Basingstoke into bat and this week the wickets came evenly through the innings. Gilbert opening the bowling and coming in again later on (as we doubled up) took a caught and bowled, Alex organised a catch which Wilf gratefully swallowed, Harry engineered a run out thanks to Wilf’s direct hit from the covers, Jacob too took one and Wilf bowled one in his final over. Only four wides bowled in the entire innings and no no-balls which is an excellent improvement from earlier in the season, the players are really getting their accuracy and lines sorted out now. The fielding too was tight with Millie and Alexander in particular doing some good backing up, so apart from a few 4s and one 6 Basingstoke never really got underway and were restricted to 247-5.
After a perfunctory tea we were off again - Gilbert and Alexander opened with some excellent quick running, tying Basingstoke’s score after the first four overs with no wickets lost. Harry and Uday strolled out and kept the momentum moving along well with only one wicket falling. After eight overs the score stood at 259 ready for Jacob and Thomas. Jacob hit out and scored his regular 4 while Thomas ran three quick singles. Two wickets fell but not to worry as the score stayed positive at 266-3.The final four overs were upon us and the dream pairing of Wilf and Millie arrived at the crease. The bowling was a little more testing and at one point Wield were staring down the barrel of a hat-trick ball but fortunately it was not to be...the score finished at 283-5 and a memorable win – good cricket all round in a grand setting and a great result for Wield, our 4th win from 9 games!
Rupert Cazalet