Hartley W B U9's vs Wield U9's, Saturday 17th May
Hartley Wintney B 209-10 were beaten by Wield 373-1,
by 164 runs and 9 wickets.
The day dawned bright as the Wield cricketers headed to far North Hampshire and there, in the middle of a wooded enclosure, we found a gem of a cricket ground. A clear blue sky and the dew rapidly burning off a finely manicured square, all measured out and ready to go – it was beautiful. A far cry from last week’s howling gale and threatening clouds, so we relaxed and waited for the home team to arrive!
Captain Wilf won the toss, put the opposition into bat and we quickly sorted out the pairs. Wilf and Jacob are settling in well to the tail end of both innings and Gilbert does his usual fine job of bringing on the younger players. We were joined this week by two new players: Thomas who came highly recommended from Tony’s Junior Juniors and Tom, also new to Wield. Millie and Tom opened the bowling attack and we were soon into wickets, Millie taking a swift run out and bowling another. Tom kept the extras down well and he can be proud of his figures. The score crept to 204. Gilbert and Thomas swept in, poised to continue and then waited as the request went up “Can I ask my Mum if I can go to the toilet?” “No, you can ask me,” replied the umpire, “and I say yes, but make it quick, behind the rhododendrons!” The game re-started and Gilbert picked up where Millie left off and was quickly taking wickets – four bowled. Thomas too on his first outing did a fine job with a stumping and the score reversed to 191. Ira and Oli arrived - Oli tied them down while Ira in close support tightened the screws at the other end. Finally it was Jacob and Wilf’s turn. Jacob bowled first and the score moved a little before Wilf from the other end quickly put a stop to that. One wicket in his first over as the stumps clattered in a run-out and another missed on the last ball as a no ball was called. Two more in his final over and Hartley Wintney were left reeling on 209-10.
A cup of squash and a penguin biscuit appeared for the teams (nothing for the umpires or scorer, ahem, we’re clearly spoilt at home) and we were soon off into Wield’s innings. The sun was beating down remorselessly now and the supporters were relishing the shade. Millie and Tom strode out to the square and the innings began. After the coaching session on Tuesday which concentrated almost entirely on running between the stumps Ian and I were keen to see how much had sunk in – the answer was...all of it. One wicket fell in the entire innings, a caught behind, but the calling and running was exemplary showing the focus and concentration had paid off, the whole team did a great job. Not losing wickets meant that the score soon totted up. After Millie and Tom it stood at 225, with Tom scoring his first runs for Wield. Gilbert and Thomas too took the bowling apart, Gilbert hitting eight 4s and a 6, finishing on 40 and Thomas also scoring his first run for Wield. Oli and Ira too hit out and the score rose to 307 with Oli in particular wading in with the bat. The final pair arrived and Jacob and Wilf wasted no time in putting the Hartley Wintney bowling to the sword. Sixes flew and fours skidded across the ground, Jacob hitting one 4 and Wilf beating his highest score by hitting 55 off 19 balls, three 6s and six 4s. The score finished on 373-1.
There is no question that Wield completely outplayed Hartley Wintney. The fielding, bowling, batting and particularly running between the wickets shone, a step-change from last week. The team is really beginning to gel now and it’s good to see that so early in the season. The pleasure of watching new players get into the game and start to learn the craft is a privilege, watching the seasoned players cut loose with the exuberance we have come to enjoy so much really makes it all worth it! Rowledge at home next week, a tough fixture last year so we’re looking forward to it.
Rupert Cazalet