Written by Stephen Moriarty

There was of course a strong atmosphere of anticipation for this 3rd game of the season for HBBH u15s. This was aided rather than hindered by the fresh, slightly rainy morning; the forecast was for good weather and spirits were not dampened.

HBBH won the toss and decided to take the field. Charlie opened from the social club end and, after an initial loosener that was wide (well-fielded by Konrad for only an additional single), bowled six dot balls into the waiting gloves of Will H behind the stumps.

Facing therefore what was effectively his first delivery, Tom C bowled Lordswood’s number 1 out with his first ball of the season and got an edge from their No. 3 from his next delivery (which unfortunately went for four). Four dot balls followed however.

Charlie’s second half-dozen began with another edge for four but good bowling by the openers and good wicket-keeping and fielding from Konrad, Tom C, and Margot in particular saw Lordswood’s score limited to 19 from 4. Patrick then brought on Will C. Konrad and Will H again did well behind while Will C found his line. He was rewarded by a wicket when Charlie confidently took a catch at close mid-off to dismiss Lordswood’s No.2.

Margot was unlucky not to get wickets in her first over when Lordswood’s No.3 played twice in the air, the only (and rather lucky) scoring shots of an accurate over from the off-spinner. Will C’s second over was also very well aimed. With Henry’s help in the field only one was added to Lordswood’s total.

The next four overs were all spin. Lordswood’s No. 3 and No.4 played their shots against the slower bowling but, as is often the case, were soon out caught, their No.4 (Lordswood’s equal-second highest scorer with 10) well-held by Tom C at point from Patrick and the No.3 (Lordswood’s top scorer on 17) again by Tom C at deep midwicket off Margot. Harry in particular had kept up the pressure in the field.

Daisy’s first over continued this pressure and saw two run-outs, both from throws by Charlie fielding close on the off-side, Will H whipping off the bails for the first and the second a direct hit! Aided by more good fielding (from Sahil in particular), only a single was scored. Patrick’s third and final over went only for two and Daisy’s second (again helped by Sahil at gully/third-man) for a single only, with another run-out (by Will C)! HBBH were now through to Lordswood’s batting tail.

The sun had been out since the second over and HBBH were feeling justifiably confident. Will C’s return to the attack dismissed Lordswood’s No.9, caught at close-point by Tom C, who bowled the next over for only a single, greatly aided by Henry, Sahil and Harry in the field.

Lordswood’s remaining No.8 (who finished Lordswood’s equal-second highest scorer on 10) and No.10 defended valiantly and were rewarded with some 4’s from edges, but only 23 runs were added by Lordswood in the final 5 overs of their innings. Patrick was able to bowl Charlie, Will C and Tom C against the brave tail-enders. Ably assisted by Henry and Harry in particular in the field, the pressure was finally too much and Lordswood were all-out four balls short of the full twenty overs when their No.10 was bowled by Tom C.

HBBH needed 88 to win.

Lordswood struck early, however, against HBBH, when Margot, shouldering the burden of facing the first ball of HBBH’s u15 season with the bat, was bowled by a superb half-yorker from the Lordswood opener. Any complacency in the HBBH camp was shattered and the HBBH support now waited in silence as their No.3, Patrick, occupied the crease in a chill breeze. Wisely Patrick carefully defended the next two balls, but the tension was hardly relieved by two subsequent, albeit scoring, edges.

The first ball of the second over of Lordswood’s attack saw Will H face his first ball of the u15 season, which he defended impeccably. Four fine characteristic cuts followed, each unfortunately to a fielder, until the final ball of the over gave the opportunity for a back-foot cover-drive for four from Will H. The HBBH camp began to breathe again! Nevertheless, only five runs came from the next two overs. Will H got another four with a glance down the leg-side from the first ball of the fifth over but only singles were scored until Patrick got two fours (the first from a free hit) in the seventh from Lordswood’s first change-bowler. However, he was caught (on 18) at long-on after a ball pinged from the middle of his bat later the same over. HBBH were 41 for 2.

Will H and Will C now fronted HBBH’s campaign. Will H hit two cuts/cross-bat drives from consecutive balls in the eighth for four. A single from the last delivery retained him the strike and he hit two more fours in the ninth (both on the on-side this time). Another single allowed him to hit two more fours in the tenth with cuts, but a shot in the air to long-off saw him out caught (at a very creditable score of 39) at the end of the tenth, bringing Charlie to the crease.

Will C, however, continued the pattern with two fours of his own in the eleventh; the first hit very hard through long-on and the second a late-cut to third-man. Four leg-byes were a bonus for HBBH from the final ball of the eleventh.

This was Charlie’s chance, which he smashed straight back through straight long-on for four. The next ball was a dot and the next a ball in the air for two. HBBH now needed only four to win and Charlie duly supplied a fine pull for four to seal the game with seven overs and two deliveries and seven wickets still in hand.

This was a splendid win for HBBH u15s in their first outing this season. The bowling attack is formidable in both pace and spin and when their batters perform as they did in this match, they are going to difficult to beat.