Another beautiful evening saw a friendly match between the U13 boys and the U15 girls. Captain Izzy won the toss and decided to field first. Before the game started, we discussed the number of extras that we have been giving away recently, and asked all the bowlers to really stay focused for all six balls.

Cordi opened the bowling, and she really acted on the pre game words, with no extras from her over. Second over saw the first wicket, as Caitlin made the batter step back, in doing so he hit his own stumps. 9-1. Hollie came on to bowl the forth over and claimed two wickets. Fist wicket was a clean bowled and the second one was from a nice high catch from Isabelle behind the stumps. 20-3.

The next wicket was in the 12th over and it was Caitlin again, another good straight ball and another wicket. Phoebe picked up the next wicket, as the batter played onto their stumps. 64-5. The girls failed to get another wicket but tight bowling kept the score down, as the boys finished 110-5.

Again, the extras count was high, 41 out of the 110 were extras. I think special mentions to the following bowlers who gave away no extras: Cordi, Grace, Izzy and Lucy.

The girls' opening pair Isabelle and Anabel started strong, with both girls hitting fours. Two wickets fell in three balls. Isabelle being clean bowled, and then Anabelle missing a straight ball. 20-2. Phoebe was next out - another clean bowled 29-3. Grace and Cordi then put on a nice partnership, until Cordi too was clean bowled 47-4.

Grace was next out, after a good catch in the deep 63-5. Milla was next in, after hitting a wonderful cover drive, she too was out to a good catch 80-6. Lucy was batting wonderfully, hitting the ball with great power, she was joined at the wicket by captain Izzy. The two girls were getting close to the winning total when Lucy was asked to retire after a great 18 runs.

Caitlin joined Izzy but she was dismissed a few balls later. 98-7. Darcey was next in, but ran herself out looking for a quick run after the wicketkeeper spilled the ball 102-8. Needing just 9 runs to win Hollie came in and settled the ship, with some great forward defensive shots to the straight balls. Hollie hit the winning runs in the 17th over.

This was a good match, and highlights that if we can get the basics right more often, we will win more matches. When bowling, concentrating fully will minimise the extras we give away, and while batting, defend the straight ball with a straight bat, you can’t score runs when you are out!

Thanks again for all the support.

Match Report - Ian Gibson