Falkland U13 Cavaliers headed to Hungerford looking to complete a hat-trick of consecutive wins and keep up their challenge alongside the Falkland U15 girls for the league title.

Hungerford won the toss and elected to bowl on a green top sloping wicket.

Runs hard to come by
Zach S and William B opened the batting for the Cavs and found runs off the bat hard to come by on the unpredictable surface and against some sharp fielding.

Two quick wickets
However, helped by extras Falkland made it to 35 before losing their first wicket bringing season's top scorer Jack R to the crease.

A second wicket fell shortly afterwards and Max W came in with a solid base score at 39-2 after 7 overs.

Steady Progress
Jack R and Max W built a steady partnership over the next 9 overs without giving any real chances.

Jack R retired after reaching 31 from 34 balls and George H bounced out or the last three overs. with a crease walk entrance that combined the best of Joe Root and Tyson Fury!

Max W and George H batted solidly to the end running well between the wickets and taking the score on to a respectable 132 for 2 after Falkland’s 20 overs.

Having lost just two wickets the feeling at the turnaround was that Falkland had set a challenging total but slightly shy of their target.

They would have to bowl and field well especially in the first 5 overs to get on top of the Hungerford batters who had the potential to score quick early runs.

Early run-out gives Cavs encouragement
After the now customary huddle and discussion of who would perform the Cole Palmeresque wicket celebration they headed to the field with a positive spring in their steps!

And the confidence was initially justified…

Just three balls into the Hungerford innings the West Berkshire silence was shattered with excited cries when wicketkeeper Jack R and bowler Edward RM combined to claim a run-out with both batters stranded at the keeper's end.

Hungerford start to build

But despite the setback the Hungerford pair put on some ship-steadying runs and unusually for this Cavs bowling attack, a growing number of extras helped the scoreboard move quickly through to the 30’s.

Flying catch leaves Umpire stunned!
This Falkland team have taken some spectacular, highlight reel blinding catches this season, and we saw another one here to break a dangerous-looking partnership.

Edward RM fielding at square leg chased down a cloud busting skied hook shot and then flew parallel to the ground Superman style before taking the grab with both feet off the grass!

If there had been a replay available TikTok would’ve broken, and the celebrations were something to behold!

The incredulous look on our very umpire Greg P standing in prime position at square leg was worth the entry fee in itself! (there was no charge obviously but that’s not the point!)

Quick runs for Hungerford
At 46-2 after 8 overs there was a feeling amongst the Falkland players and spectators that another quick wicket would give them a real chance of another thrilling win these young Cavaliers have built a reputation around.

However, this was to be the highlight of the innings for Falkland as Yash T and William S struck out with some mighty blows. They quickly turned the momentum of the game and put pressure back on the Falkland bowlers.

Yash T batted solidly for Hungerford to retire with 32 scored off 38 balls.

Controversy & missed chances
The Cavs then thought they’d made the crucial breakthrough of William S’s wicket after William B joined the Cavs Worldy catch gang at fine leg with another full-length diving take…only to see the bowler's end umpire had called a high no-ball!

To their credit Falkland accepted the decision in a sporting manner and pushed to create another opportunity over the next few tension-ridden overs.

Hungerford’s William S continued to ride his luck, a couple of overs later when Falkland thought they’d got his wicket with a catch behind, and then the very next ball a tricky chance off the same batter went down!

William S made the most of his good fortune and retired after an impressive 30 runs off 21 balls including 6 fours.

A chink of light for Falkland
One ball later Edward RM boosted Falkland's spirits and hopes again with a wicket.

But it wasn’t to be enough and despite the field adding some pressure to the batters Hungerford made it to their total with 16 balls to spare.

A Sunny Sunday Afternoon of Cricket
A good match between two talented teams had entertained a good crowd in the Sunday afternoon sunshine.

A Falkland team who always fight to the end of a game - indeed they created a great chance in the final few balls - were understandably disappointed with the result, but there are plenty of positives to take from the match for this young team.

Fizzy Pop Moment
As mentioned above there have been some spectacular snatch and grabs in the field this season and we had another to add to list in this match.

Edward RM’s flying catch at full stretch was the energy injection the Cavs needed just at the right moment!

It was one of those occasions in junior sport when everything seems to freeze in time for a second while everyone takes in what just happened (including, in this case, the fielder involved himself!!), before an explosion of celebratory yelps!

And that joy is what it’s all about!