Wield U9's vs Eversley B U9's, Saturday 14th June
Eversley B, 319-5 beat Wield 191-12 by seven wickets and 128 runs
Flaming June returned despite apocalyptic thunderstorms on Friday night, but Wield was not flooded and we were underway at 1000 as planned. Down to six players we agreed with the Eversley coach that we’d bat and bowl four of our players twice which worked well. Gilbert, undertaking his first captainly duties of the season in Wilf’s absence, won the toss and put Eversley into bat. Tim took on the scoring duties and we were all set. Gilbert opened with Thomas and Eversley started to plunder runs. Then in the third over he struck, knocking over Eversley Eddie’s off stump and Wield cheered. After the first pair the score stood at 238-1 and Millie and Maddy stepped into the breach. Millie’s pitching it up created two catching opportunities which Gilbert took gratefully and Eversley stumbled briefly to 263. After the first eight overs Thomas and Maddy had done a great job supporting at their other ends, the bowling is really coming on and the extras this week were cut back dramatically from previous matches. Ella and our latest new player Alexander came to the crease. Ella started going round the wicket and then switched to over and immediately bowled Eversley’s Oliver. Alexander too kept the extras down and the score shifted up to 299-4. With everyone bowled we shared the last four overs out between Ella, Maddy, Millie and Gilbert. Three quiet overs lifted their final score to 319, but not before Gilbert clean bowled another and Wield had quite a target to aim for – 319-5. Eversley lent us two to field who both (Harry and Jonty) did admirable jobs against their brother Felix, quick returns to the stumps and very professional backing up.
The cloud was beginning to roll in but tea was welcomed - thank you to Camilla, Steve, Chris and Giles for helping with that. We knew Eversley could bat, but could they bowl? The answer came quickly and Gilbert responded by taking it on and hitting 4s all over the ground. Thomas did well at the other end but was bamboozled by a fast, straight one and the score after the first four overs was a respectable 218. Millie and Maddy took their places and the game went very quiet for four overs as both faced some quick and aggressive bowling. However, they kept the wickets out only conceding one and the score rested at 215. Ella and Alexander took the same approach but sadly after two bowled and a caught the score retreated to 208. Doubling up Ella and Maddy came in again and the wickets began to fall – three were taken by Eversley’s Scott bowling fast and accurate and Wield just could not keep them out. Eddie too took two and the score was shattered at 186-11. Gilbert swung his bat as he came in, a wry grin on his face realising that even a serious set of pyrotechnics could probably not save the day and so it was. After a 4 and a couple of singles the score crept back up to 196 but a final stump rattling bowled reduced us to 191-12 at the end.
We have inflicted these defeats on others in the past but to be on the receiving end of one hurt! Their bowling was good – quick and accurate and we didn’t score the runs to compensate. We were strong in the field and our bowling acquitted itself well but we have to start scoring runs, boundaries and efficient singles and twos – and with a slow outfield at Wield the aerial route is always best! Thank you once again to Tim for scoring and for the tea ladies, Wield always wins the hospitality.
Rupert Cazalet