Wield U9's vs Cove B U9's, Sunday 29th June

Cove B batted first and scored 299-3, Wield tied on 299-4

Wield knew this was going to be a tough one so we fielded one of our strongest teams for the season, both Captain Wilf and Gilbert, with Alexander after his skills in yesterday’s abandoned game. Ira, Ellie and Millie were all up for it and ready to hit out and Oli and Jacob were both keen to get in among the wickets. Wilf won the toss and put Cove into bat, relishing a run chase later in the morning. Gilbert and Alexander opened the bowling and Cove let rip – not according to the plan! On 222 after the first four overs we needed some wickets to peg them back a bit but Oli’s and Ira’s efforts did not slow them down much as the score moved to 252. Cove had started to take sneaky singles and was then following through on the over-throws – Wield was snoozing and then rattled and needed to settle down to its usual clinical fielding. Still asking for wickets Ella and Jacob came to the crease and we finally had our answer. Ella bowling at an unplayable pace opened Wield’s account with two bowled in her second over. Cove stuttered to 263 as Millie and Wilf arrived to finish up. Wilf took another wicket for Wield but again the fielding let Wield down and Cove’s score after some clever running between the wickets sat at 299-3.

What a relief tea arrived when it did, this was not an un-gettable total but we had some work to do so we gently asked the team to wake up a bit for the second innings! As ever Allison and Emma with help from Chris did us proud with the teas and Emma’s flap-jacks were delicious - a calming influence as we pondered the run-fest to come...

Gilbert and Alexander strode out to the wicket and got to work. After the first four overs the score stood at 220-1, on a par with Cove so we had started well. Gilbert took their bowling to task with some 4s and Alexander too hit a 4 which was great to see. Oli and Ira came in and after a hesitant start answered the calls from the boundary to run and the score crept up to 234 with only one more wicket falling. Jacob and Ella arrived and steadily the core rose yet more as again only one wicket fell to some aggressive and quick bowling. Cove was applying the pressure but Wield responded well, the score after 12 overs and awaiting Millie and Captain Wilf sat at 246-3 - 54 required from 4 overs. A gentle start, 5 off the first over, 49 needed off three. The Cove scorer was relaxing. Wilf farmed the strike and was ready to face the second over. Two 6s were smashed out of the ground, that’s more like it, 17 runs off the over so 31 required and Wilf and Millie were stealing singles too as well as going for the boundary. Another two 6s and a 4 and we were getting within reach. Cove put all its fielders on the boundaries, not much good when Wilf is hitting over! The last over and another 6 (five in total now and he finished on 45) and then 3 required off the last ball to win...a 2 struck and the scores were tied, an extraordinary result!

Wield played out of its skin in the second innings, good hitting, good calling and running and a keen eye for the opportunities. Cove was a strong team with very good batting and running between the wickets and their bowling was equally testing but Wield came through the fire proved and while we did not win, we can be very proud of the performance.

Rupert Cazalet