A sultry evening saw HBBH U17s welcome Borstal’s U17s for a “20-over” game in the League. Borstal won the toss and chose to bat.

Arishan opened HBBH’s bowling campaign from the Paddock End and bowled Borstal’s number 1 with his third delivery, a perfect slow yorker. HBBH’s optimism was maintained by Charlie’s first half-dozen from the Pavilion End, with only two singles from the bat. Borstal’s numbers 2 and 3, however, began to show their quality with frequent boundaries, despite some excellent fielding. The introduction of some spin in the eighth finally slowed this onslaught somewhat, and Margot took the wicket of Borstal’s number 2 - superbly stumped by Herridge behind the stumps - in the tenth. Borstal’s number 3 and 4 soon recommenced the punishing Borstal run-rate, however, again mostly with powerful shots to the boundary that HBBH’s fielders could do little against. Again it was only slow bowling that seemed to give Borstal any difficulty: Edward getting their number 3 bowled in the fifteenth and Connor coming close a couple of times. The recent drought was evidenced by the clouds of dust sent up as Borstal’s batters jammed down the toes of their bats to keep out the ball.

Scoring remained brisk, however. Only the wicket of Borstal’s number 6, bowled by Arishan in the final over of Borstal’s innings, brought succour to HBBH. Borstal had amassed 261.

The clouds that had patterned the bright midsummer sky had passed, and HBBH went out to bat in relentless evening sunlight.

HBBH soon showed that they could also hit fours: James – opening - playing a lovely off-drive for four in the first over. Thomas was out caught in the second after a powerful shot towards long-on, bringing Luca to the crease to score two more fours from the second. James succeeded in losing the ball in the bushes with a four from the first ball of the third, and struck its replacement for another in the same over. Luca hit another boundary from the first ball of the fourth and the last of the fifth. James smashed another through long-on from the first delivery of the sixth but was unfortunately caught in the covers the following ball, bringing Charlie to the middle.

Luca continued to maintain a very respectable run-rate with two magnificent straight fours in the seventh and Charlie lofted a drive to the boundary on the off-side from the first delivery of the eighth. Nine came off this over despite there being nearly a run-out from the third ball, Luca belting another four from the fifth delivery.

Charlie’s innings was unfortunately terminated when he was caught at long-off in the ninth, bringing Margot to the crease. For spectators in the pavilion, low light now fringed every player not in the shade of the Paddock End trees with a golden outline. Margot, in the shade of the oak tree at the Paddock end, hit her first delivery for four through mid-on. Luca’s splendid innings came to a close when he was caught in the covers early in the tenth and Edward was unfortunately soon out caught at close point after boldly trying to lift a ball over the slips.

Herridge replaced Edward and like Margot hit his first ball for a boundary. Margot and Will’s partnership was graced with very clear calling, greatly reducing the angst of spectators and, most importantly, that of the batters themselves! Some stylish cricket followed, even if Will’s trick shots to free hits didn’t always come off! Both batters hit more fine fours until Will was finally caught behind in the eighteenth over to conclude an excellent individual innings.

A cool breeze and the setting sun now brought a poignant fin du jour feeling to everyone present.

Freddie’s partnership with Margot remained intact until the twenty overs were up. Margot drove beautifully through the covers at the end of the nineteenth and Freddie rocketed three fours and a single from the ten deliveries he faced.

Although HBBH, with only ten players, ended short of the target set by Borstal, they too had batted superbly. The match had been played in a competitive but friendly spirit and there had been much to admire from both teams. A memorable evening at “The Hill”.