Odiham U9's vs Wield U9's, Saturday 3rd May
Wield 349-2, Odiham 217-9 - Wield win by 132 runs
And we’re off again, a new season and a new team with two untried members. Wield was one player short on the glorious, sunny May morning so we doubled up the batting and bowling. Odiham won the toss and decided to have a bowl and our first pair, Gilbert and Oli made their way to the crease. Gilbert was nursing a delicate ankle so decided to hit for the boundary and in true Chris Gayle style the boundaries came quickly: second ball of the innings went for 6 over midwicket and Wield were off to a running start. Another two followed later in the innings alongside three 4s and a couple of hobbled singles put Gilbert’s opening gambit at 34, an excellent start. Oli at the other end was bamboozled momentarily by Odiham’s Tom but got back on his feet and hit 8 with only one bowled wicket opening his campaign for 2014. The score stood at 237. Doubling up for our one player short brought in Wilf early with Ella and he eased to a gentle 18 with four fours and a couple of singles to farm the strike! Ella held down the other end with 2, not conceding any wickets and running well between the stumps - tight bowling by Olli and Orlando kept us in check. Millie and Joseph arrived and after a quiet start got their eyes in and hit 3 a piece with some scrambled running between the wickets, which sadly did not come off one time as we lost our second wicket of the innings. Both were after the ball however, and it was great to see the “old hands” getting back into the swing of things. The score stood at a comfortable 296. The last pair, Wilf and Jacob strolled out to the wicket and Jacob opened with a quiet single in the first over and another in the next putting Wilf on strike. The fireworks began. Five 6s and three 4s later the total score ended on 349 and Wilf scored a half century in three overs. The sixes peppered the crowd and the pavilion with one thankfully going straight through the virtually brand new open doors – it would have been embarrassing to have smashed one!
Tea arrived and with smiles all round Wield relished being back in the saddle again. However, 349 still had to be defended and Odiham usually fielded a strong team.
As with the batting and in a tried and tested formula Gilbert and Oli opened the bowling and Gilbert was soon plundering wickets, two bowled in his first over at a searing pace and a maiden in his second over. Oli was not to be denied either with a blinding catch held by Wilf at silly mid off (warned twice about getting too close) and bowling one as well. Wield pegged them back to 187-4 after the first pair. Millie and Joseph took their turn opening with a quiet first over. Joseph came to the crease and with quick reactions and superb fielding Jacob and Joseph arranged a deft run out. The score crept to 202-5. Ella and Gilbert (returned, having to double up for our absence) and two more wickets fell as the score moved to 213-7. Jacob and Wilf took on the final four overs and one final wicket a piece, both bowled as Odiham finished on 217: a convincing victory for Wield at the beautiful Odiham ground - the early May games are always such a pleasure as the trees and hedges are looking bright and fresh in the warming sunshine after a chilly winter. And it is great to see some burgeoning talent in the team: the Daniels brothers looking far more confident in their second season; Millie and Ella coming into the team with enthusiasm and sparkle again; Oli slotted himself in perfectly and Wilf and Gilbert as usual played with the enthusiasm and exuberance we have come to expect of them both! The team gelled well – on the basis of this performance the coaching and playing for the season will be another pleasure.
Although as ever it was a team performance with everyone supporting each other and encouraging the great play we saw there were some stand-out moments. Gilbert’s 4 wickets over his two sessions crippled the opposition but it was Wilf’s devastating 50 in his second session and lightening quick catch that marked Wield’s performance and as such Wilf claims the first man of the match award for 2014!
Rupert Cazalet