Home | Reports 7th May 2006

Inter District Under 14 Reports - 30th April 2006

East v North - North won by 14 runs

Seemingly a good toss for East to win, as the track was initially two-paced but got easier as the game progressed. T. Rowbotham retired hurt after being hit in the ribs by a Nick Leach delivery, but his opening partner (P. Cooper) stuck around for 2.5 hours to top score for North with 35 runs.  Billy Curtis threatened briefly with a score of 18 and A. Crouch hit a wonderful pull shot for 6 over the pavilion.  In truth it was ‘extras’ that top scored (a massive 43), with wides accounting for almost 30 of those, which in addition to 97 off the bat provided West with a total of 140 at 2.8 runs/over.  Wickets were shared between East’s seven bowlers, but JJ Debenham and Michael Collinge (the spin twins) both bowled well in the middle of North’s innings.

Despite injuries to Miles Lenygon and James Tolland, East still had – on paper – a strong batting line up and, with short boundaries square of the wicket, East clearly expected to win with ease. Billy Curtis (4/15) and Dan Brierley (5/28) had a different plan and bowled to it!  East lost a couple of early wickets, but Michael Collinge (37) and Will Gater (25) pushed the run rate up to seven an over.  Toby Ingham (34) also kept the scorers busy and an East win was in sight.  But, having got a good start, all three batsmen gave their wickets away and, as a consequence, the game swung back North’s way.  Smelling victory was on its way North’s bowlers made short work of East’s last four batsmen.  East scored more runs off the bat (115) at five runs an over, but the champagne moments didn’t add up to victory and East’s batsmen looked to others to win the game rather than take responsibility themselves.

In summary it was North’s desire to win, East’s ability to get themselves out and an excess of ‘extras’ from East that made up the difference between the sides.  Well done North; wake up East. Mike Collinge, for runs and good leg spin bowling, was awarded the East Man of the Match award on his debut. Dan Brierley and Billy Curtis shared the Man of the Match award for the North, mainly for their bowling but also for runs and fine fielding.

South v West - South won by 44 runs

On a cloudy day, with a cold wind blowing, the first match of the District Season for both teams started at a little after 1pm.  West had won the toss and opted to bowl first on a pitch that looked as though it would favour the seam bowlers.The opening bowlers, Josh Coker and Alex Carr both moved the ball a great deal, and both South batsmen scored runs with edges through the slips that went to the boundary for 4.  However, the batsmen also showed excellent judgement and left most balls that were not on the stumps.  The best shot of the opening overs was a lovely cover drive by Luke Tuckett off Alex Carr.  After 10 overs, the score was 31-0, which was excellent considering the conditions. The next two bowlers for the West were Mosim Alam and Rob Bennett.  Both initially bowled maidens, and then Roger Doxat-Pratt decided to help himself to runs off Rob Bennett with two flicks off his legs.  However, when he repeated the shot for the third time, he was hit on the pad and given out LBW off the last ball of the 14th over for a well fought 16 runs.  Off the first ball of the next over, Alam had Tuckett caught and bowled, also for 16 runs, and then had the dangerous Ryan Stevenson out first ball caught at point by Lewis Gregory. It was then up to the two Devon Matts (Hickey and Thompson) to rebuild the innings.  This they did slowly and surely, until Matt Thompson got an absolute beauty of a ball from Lewis Gregory the bowled him for 5 runs in the 24th over. At the half way stage South were 69-4, with Matt Hickey and Andrew Longstreet at the crease.  In the very next Lewis Gregory over, Matt Hickey went for an extravagent shot on the leg side, and bottom edged the ball down inside the pad and onto the side of his knee.  This was very painful, and at the change of ends, the umpires called on the South Manager as they were concerned that Hickey should leave the field.  However, Hickey decided to stay out and Matt Thompson joined him as a runner. Most in the crowd of 40 or so parents and supported, expected that having a runner would cause confusion and a run out, but initially this did not happen.  Hickey continued playing with good control, and only attacked the wayward ball, keeping a firm defence and being happy to settle for singles.  However, in the 33rd over Coker nipped one through the Longstreet defence, and he was out for 2, but had been involved in a steady partnership of 26. Tom Field then batted with Matt Hickey for the next 5 overs or so, continuing the steady accumulation runs.  One event during this partnership was the running confusion we had all beeen expecting.  The ball hit Field’s pads and Thompson screamed for a single, but Field was rooted in his crease.  Thompson, was half way down the pitch before realising that Field was not running, and turned with no hope of regaining his ground, but the throw was so wild, that in the end the batsmen got their single after all.  The running was somewhat subdued for a couple of overs after that!! West had by this time tried the Leg Spin of Nathan Bulley and Tom Yarnold’s seam bowling, and turned again to Mosim Alam, this time from the Pavillion end.  He immediatley found an excellent line and length, and bowled Field for 20 and then Jo Davis the very next ball, and so for the second time in the game, Alam had a hat trick ball that was well defended by Aaron Hearn.  South were now 126-7 after 39 overs, but Hickey was still at the wicket, and decided to attack carr who had come back into the attack, taking him for two 4s in an over and finally reaching a well deserved 50. Hearn played himself in quietly, and then showed the quality batsman he has become over the winter, by square cutting Gregory for two successive 4s.  This 8th wicket partnership was the highest of the innings, and the two batsman scored at around 5 an over, until Alam got a rapid delivery through the Hickey defense to get him out LBW for 66.  It was a true Captain’s knock by Hickey and especially as he batted for over half his runs, with a damaged knee. South battted out the remaining 5 overs, although Alam got another wicket Matt Taylor stayed with Hearn to the end.  Hearn was 30 not out at the close, a most impressive innings.  He had played some of the best shots of the day.  South’s final total was 187-9, which would be a tough target for the West unless the wicket got easier. Mosim Alam was the pick of the West bowlers, with the exceptional figures of   9-2-24-6.  he twice took 2 wickets in 2 balls, and was consistently hostile, but controlled.

After an excellent tea, put on by Ipplepen Cricket Club, who were superb hosts for ther day, West went out to bat in cold conditions.  The first couple of overs were similar to the start of the South innings, with the ball moving in the air of off the pitch.  The in the 3rd over Andrew Longstreet moved one back into Lewis Gregory and through the gate to bowl him for a duck.  In the next over Ryan Stevenson bowled Luffman with an express delivery, and West were 5-2 and in some trouble. O Frost and T Price quietly went about repairing the damage although there was a dropped catch, when two of the South boys collided as they went for a catch; Longstreet was the unlucky bowler.  After 10 overs, West were 15-1, and then after taking 15 from 2 overs, the next pair of South bowlers struck.  First Angus Wilson bowled Price for 8, then in the next Matt Hill bowled Alex Carr for 1, before Wislon cleaned up Frost for 18, and West were back in trouble at 33-5 after 16 overs. However, whilst Mosim Alam was at the wicket there was hope.  After his great bowling display, there was a feeling that this might be his day.  South brought on the leg spin of Matt Taylor to go with the seam of Aaron Hearn, and at once Taylor had an impact, as he decived Graig Daw in flight and Matt Thompson whipped off the bails – Daw out stumped for 4, with the West 42-6 in the 21st over. Rob Bennett joined Alam, and they put together a quality partnership of 44.  Taking few risks, they kept the scoreboard ticking at 3 runs an over.  South tried Tom Field’s spin, and left arm seam from Joe Davis, before bringing back Longstreet for a second spell.  With his first ball, he bowled Bennett for an stubern, hard fought 27.  Then in his next over after taking some stick from Alam, he bowled Nathan Bulley for 1.  Two over later, he was at it again, this time due to some excellent work from Thompson who stood up to Longstreet and claimed a second stumping, getting rid of Josh Coker for 8.  The score had now reached 128 for 9, in the 41st over and South began finally to feel safe. However, Alam was still there, and Watkins joined him determined to stick around.  There were a few oohs and aahs, but finally Hearn bowled Alam for a tremedous 44, with the second ball of his new spell.  West were all out for 143.  Alam was warmly applauded off the field and was the man of the match for West with his 6-24 to go with 44 runs.  Andrew Longstreet was the pick of the South bowlers with an analysis of 10-1-34-4, but man of the match for South was Aaron Hearn, whose batting took the game away from the West.

The game was played in an excellent spirit, with quietly efficient umpiring from Dave Moseby and Barry Jarvis.  At the end South earned 19 points and West 6 points.