Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2015 Berkshire Match Report

Berkshire 2^nd August 2015 Hungerford CC

Early start, up at 5.30AM and late home, 10.45PM and another challenging day but there with lots of positives, including the way we battled and didn’t let Berkshire win easily. It was a story of small margins and having a little more luck again- unfortunately the same story it has been for much of the summer. There has been progress though and don’t forget it.

The pitch unusually had patches of flattened rough quite long grass and holes where the birds had taken grubs and it looked as if it might offer something to the bowlers. We decided that we would however bat first as bowling first had not really worked and then we lost the toss and got put in anyway. Deggy had a new opening partner in Max Majzner. 7 off the first over, 5 of them extras, got us off to a good positive start but in the 4^th over Max got one that perhaps stopped slightly and he popped it back to the bowler. Next over Deggy got one that lifted and then next ball one that kept low and was LBW. Next delivery Dobs lost his polls! 13-3!! Oh dear.. Jonty, ”I like batting at three its fun” Walliker and Sam Taylor recover the situation and put on 48, yes I know a partnership, when Jonty came down the wicket to Stone and you guessed it, missed it and was stumped! 61-4 in the 17^th. Oh hum! That became 63-5 when Tayls is LBW playing across a delivery and 66-6 in the 21^st when Locky, who was lucky not to be out before miscued Stone and was caught in the covers. He was bowling orthodox slow left arm and quite well lads.. Saps batting middle order was now joined by Byron and he was then caught at mid off, free those arms Byron as you did early season, 70-7 off 23. Will we bat out the overs or even make 100? Gregors and Saps then showed what was necessary, some grit, application and determination and put on 66 for the 8^th wicket, Saps even using his feet to the spinner and hitting straight- yes straight lads in the “V” for a couple of super boundaries, when he was caught in the deep just when we were trying to pick up the tempo and get to 175. Nick reckoned 155 but I was optimist, yes unusual I can hear you saying, and was hoping for 175ish. So 136-8 in the 41^st which became 139-9 when Gregors called for a quick single and Carps decided against it. Last man out in the 45^th was Kers and we finished on 152 which given we were 70-7 was not a bad effort. Thank you the middle order and tail and as someone said in the post match chat the top order need to get some runs.

After tea we knew we had to bowl and field really well, bowl straight, make them play, cut out the 4 balls and extras/ wides and get early wickets to put pressure on Berkshire. Kers opened with a maiden, unusually no wicket though, but how many balls did the batsman actually have to play at?; Gregors was a little more accurate and both were swinging and seaming the ball but the Berkshire openers were watchful and left a lot. In the 9^th over Kers got the break through when he bowled Carter but he was unlucky not to have had him out LBW two balls earlier. Williams and George Harris then batted very well, there were a couple of half chances and the decisions did not go our way and they gradually took the match away from us. Jeffers, Deggy and Max all had a bowl but it was Carps introduction which looked like we might get the breakthrough but it just didn’t happen. With 15 overs left, the instructions were fight hard, dot balls and if we get one wicket it will bring two. It was suggested Jonty should bowl his chinamen and together with Saps they exerted some pressure and then Jonty bowled Williams (50) again nearly having him LBW previously. Next over he then had Harris caught by Deggy. 116-3 I the 36^th. All too late.. James Harris and Lee steadied the ship but it was not until nearly the 43^rd over that Berkshire got home.

So, those "what if’s", they are no good lads, haunting us again. If we had scored 175-200? If we hadn’t bowled 13 wides, two no balls for too few in the ring or those 4 balls. If we had held those half chances or if we had had that little bit of luck, which seems to go missing when things aren’t going so well, perhaps an LBW decision in our favour, just something. All you can do is keep working hard, do the basics and well and not give up until the last ball is bowled. I know it is hard, difficult at your age but it will turn around. Believe and trust in your self (ves). Only you can make it happen. Only you can make it real.

Finally there were a couple of incidents that were evident from the side, and I have noticed some others in recent matches, such as not happy with LBW decisions. YOU accept them and walk off and show no decent. When we get players out I do not expect to see, let alone hear send offs! It does not happen - full stop!

Thank you Hungerford CC, the Umpires and the Berkshire management; Wendy and Derek as usual for scoring and your support, all the parents for driving all the way to Berkshire and for your support too. We had a pleasant drive home via the A303 and a nice meal at Wayne’s Dinner, good choice Wendy. Tired today and we’ve a match tomorrow.

HOME SCORECARD