Written by Richard Holden

On Sunday 2nd June, two heavyweights of Medway U11s cricket went toe to toe in their 16-over format with our boys taking on Borstal.

With Borstal batting first, both their opening pair had our parents enquiring about seeing their birth certificates and they got the away side off to a solid start. However, Jacob brought some control when he took a wicket with his first ball after the Borstal batsman missed a straight one.

This was followed up by some hostile fast bowling from Fin and Ali, mixed in with a spin experiment from Thomas. After some wayward bowling in the previous game and some hard work in training, it was great to see far fewer wides being bowled. Fraser and Rupert were our next bowlers and both boys quickly settled down, bowled very steadily and were very hard to get away.

Harry L and Fin, bowling his second spell, were our next to try to restrict the scoring. Despite bowling in sunglasses, much to the dismay of the coaching team, Lawsy got straight in on the action with a wicket with his first ball. The reliable Fin was his usual consistent self and would have got in the wickets had he managed to hold on to a very difficult caught and bowled chance.

The 3rd Borstal batting pair turned out to be their big hitters. Glorious cover drives, some firm pull shots and an outrageous six over long off really accelerated the run rate and it looked as though they were going to amass a very challenging total. However, Jacob really upped his game and was unlucky to concede a boundary through the slips. Thomas was exceptional in the deep and saved a good few runs that turned out to be vital.

With the dangerous 3rd pair back in the pavilion, our boys were determined to get themselves back in the game and this is exactly how it turned out. Harry L returned with a fine over, only spoiled by a no-ball, Thomas got in on the wickets and Fin put his missed chance earlier in the innings behind him with two wickets in two balls (hat-trick ball opportunity in our next game against Gravesend). With some great death bowling, backed up by some committed fielding and superb work behind the stumps from Joseph, we had restricted Borstal to a challenging but achievable 171.

Ali and Fraser were out first batting pair and opened to the all-too-familiar chorus of “wicket ball”. However, they stuck at their task and communicated really well in taking a few singles. Borstal’s 4th bowler gave us a scare with two quick wickets but Ali and Fraser ended their innings on a high with a couple of boundaries.

Next up for HBBH were Jacob and Joseph. They got off to an unbelievable start with a pull shot for four, two runs from a glorious cover drive and two more boundaries – 16 runs off their first over.

With the run chase looking comfortable, Borstal brought on their very own Waqar Younis but even he couldn’t stem the flow of runs – Joseph somehow managing to tuck a chest height delivery down to fine leg for 4. Jacob and Joseph ended their innings having added an invaluable 24 runs.

Fin and Rupert were our next batting pair and they played a very responsible and watchful innings. Some excellent calling meant they picked up crucial singles to keep the scoreboard ticking against some very accurate bowling. It was looking as though we were in prime position going into our final pair but a wicket in Fin and Rupert’s final over meant that it was anyone’s game.

Thomas and Harry L were the boys who were tasked with getting us over the line. Inevitably, Borstal brought back their best bowlers but our lads showed guts, determination and skill in the face of some quick deliveries. Thomas played some great leg side shots and the boys ran excellently. Harry managed a beautiful cut for two and was inches away from his first ever six. Two boundaries in a row in the penultimate over set us up perfectly with 7 needed from the final over to win.

Thomas faced the first ball and got it away for a single. Six required. Harry L then got bat on ball to a fast delivery that flew through slip for 4. 2 to win. Two dot balls followed and it looked as though their fast bowler would see out the win. However, Harry and Thomas managed the chase expertly - Harry got bat on ball and the boys sprinted a rapid 2 to take them into the lead. With one ball left and us one run ahead, all that was needed was to see out the final delivery. With all the players, parents and coaches watching on with hearts in mouths, Harry held his nerve and led the celebrations of a fine victory.

Overall this was a superb team performance that demonstrated just how far the boys have come since the start of last season. Special mentions to Dave for his tireless work in improving the boys week on week; Joseph for his brilliant keeping – his first ever time behind the stumps; Harry H for scoring the entire game under the watchful eye of Clair and keeping the boys informed during the run chase; and, most importantly, Sally for providing the breakfast, and in some cases, a much-needed hangover cure.