Written by Stephen Moriarty

On yet another chilly evening typical of the cool weather this spring and summer, Holcombe and Blue Bell Hill U13s showed their strength in depth against a strong Cobham team.

HBBH won the toss and elected to bowl against a Cobham line-up known to feature some very able batters. HBBH’s worst apprehensions seemed to be realised when their No.1 bat hit HBBH’s opener Hutton’s first two balls both for four. However Hutton’s cricketing nous was plain when he then pitched the third delivery well up, clean bowling the opener. The theme for the evening was set: despite seeming setbacks, HBBH always seemed to have an extra gear.

Herridge bowled the second over from the Paddock End, conceding only a single and putting Cobham’s No.2 under considerable pressure: he edged two balls and survived an LBW shout. Hutton followed this with a maiden over (one of three that evening for Hutton!). Herridge’s second over saw Cobham remind HBBH of their batting potential when their No.3 hit two fours despite Herridge’s customary accuracy, but, in a shrewd change to the bowling, Moriarty brought Connop T. on at the Pavilion End to replace Hutton, to see Connop bowl Cobham’s No.2 with his first ball. True to the theme of the game, the new batter riposted for Cobham with a four off the next ball!

Moriarty brought himself on to bowl and was hit for two fours and a single in his first over as Cobham again showed their teeth. Connop T. was able to limit Cobham to just one four from his next over and Moriarty, finding his spinner’s line and length, limited Cobham to only two in his second.

The pendulum was swinging HBBH’s way: in Connop T.’s third over Cobham’s batters failed to score and their No.3 was out “caught and bowled” to a brilliant one-handed catch by the bowler.

Bunker replaced Moriarty to bowl from the Paddock End. Finding her line she began to bowl with her customary verve, in her second over despatching (well caught by Hutton) Cobham’s No.5 facing his second ball (having hit his first ball for 4), after Cobham’s No.4 had retired with the excellent score of 28.

At the other end Devish also maintained the pressure on Cobham and was unlucky not to get a wicket. Moriarty, sensing an opportunity, brought on Hutton again for a cameo in the middle of the innings. Hutton duly supplied a wicket-maiden: Cobham’s No.7 finding himself caught behind by Bumstead, again having a great game behind the stumps.

Sahil was brought on from the Paddock End. In a passage typical of this finely balanced game, Sahil saw his fourth ball hit for four runs, but showed his mettle by bowling out his opponent in the duel with a fine delivery, next ball.

Availing himself of HBBH’s wealth of bowlers, Moriarty brought on Benji at the Pavilion End for just what was needed at this stage of the game: an economical over. At the other end, Archie also did well: Cobham, keen for runs at this stage of the game, were able to score from only three of his deliveries. Indeed, Cobham’s batters scored only 15 runs in the last six overs of their innings.

Having conserved his openers’ overs, Moriarty was now able to bring Connop T. back on for one over and was magnificently rewarded with five “dot” balls, the which nevertheless provided, for lovers of the game, the foil for a fine cut for four by Cobham’s No.9. At the other end, Konrad applied more pressure brilliantly. Despite Cobham now being desperate to increase their score in the few overs remaining, only one run was scored from the bat and there were two good shouts for LBW as well.

Hutton, on superb form, then perhaps sealed Cobham’s fate with another wicket-maiden, skittling out Cobham’s No.8 with his third delivery.

Herridge’s final over was also the last of the innings and possibly the most entertaining. Cobham were restricted to only three runs. There was nearly a run-out on the third ball, nearly a catch off the fifth and a wicket – Cobham’s No.10 bowled – from the sixth and final ball of twenty overs!

Cobham had started strongly, but had been limited by a rich and varied HBBH bowling attack and sharp fielding from all their players to 109 for 8.

However, this was still a run-rate of over five per over in either failing light or the notoriously blinding light of the sun setting over the Paddock End of HBBH’s home ground. Indeed, again true to the theme of the game, the balance soon seemed to tip back in Cobham’s favour. It is true that in the first over of HBBH’s innings, Moriarty had scored off the first ball and Herridge had struck a fine “one-bounce” four through midwicket, but only one run came from the bat in the second over and when Moriarty was out caught at short mid-off having pushed through a drive too early on the second ball of the third, there was concern in the HBBH camp. Due to excellent bowling from Cobham, runs were slow in coming to both Bumstead and Herridge (despite some subtle glances behind by Bumstead - one for four - and some good running between the wickets by both), and when Bumstead found himself bowled near the end of the sixth over, HBBH were 23 for 2, well under the required rate for a win.

However, Herridge and the new batter Connop T. ran well between the stumps in the next over to keep the score going, and in the next Connop T. hit a four to point and a four over long-on to give hope to HBBH. Nevertheless Cobham continued to bowl well for the next two overs, conceding very few runs (one of which, however, being a nicely controlled glance behind square by Herridge) and getting out Connop T., caught behind, for 11. After ten overs HBBH were 47 for 3, still under target.

However, Cobham bowling changes seemed to work to HBBH’s advantage and HBBH were able to pick up the run rate with plenty of wickets in hand, helped by a number of “extras”. Hutton smashed a full toss to square leg for four and Herridge scored steadily in ones and twos until the final flourish of a four through the covers, forcing his retirement on 26.

Now joined at the crease by Bunker, Hutton continued to have a truly superb outing, ending the innings “not-out” for 21, including three fine fours. However, it was Bunker who perhaps stole the show during the final overs. With that bit of luck that often accompanies success, Bunker hit three fours in her not-out total of 16, one of them straight back under the bowler and the last a lovely shot off the pads to square-leg to win the match with a total for HBBH of 113 from 17 overs and four balls, for the loss of only 3 wickets.

In perspective, the difference was HBBH’s wicket-taking combined with an ability to stay longer at the crease: when the run chases came, HBBH were much better placed.

A good win for HBBH who showed their strength in depth against worthy opponents.