Written by Stephen Moriarty

A thin layer of cloud to the west meant that much of this game was played in diffuse light, despite the continual presence of areas of blue sky over HBBH’s ground.

High Halstow (HH) were in traditional whites with pale red caps whilst HBBH sported their now familiar azure kit.

HBBH won the toss (again!) and decided to field. Moriarty set his field quite deep, often the best strategy in the slightly restricted terrain of U13 games.

The first over of a match is a chance for the fielding side to set the tone of the game while the opposition batters are still settling to their task, and Moriarty’s selection of Hutton to open the bowling from his favoured Pavilion End was richly rewarded with a wicket-maiden, the perfect start for HBBH. Controlling his line and length superbly, Hutton bowled HH’s number 1 with the third delivery of the over, whilst effective wicket-keeping by Bumstead and alert fielding by Bunker and Tibbets J ensured that the batters were confined to their creases throughout.

Connop T at the other end maintained the pressure, aided by, amongst others, good fielding from Tibbets H and Zolnowski-Bull. The only run from the bat was an inside edge.

Hutton’s second began with another edge, which unfortunately went for a four, and HH’s number 3 managed a clip or thick-edge to square leg for another off the next ball. Zolnowski-Bull was subsequently able to stop another going the same way, but the last of the over went for four byes. HH, after 3 overs, were suddenly 21 for 1, a good run rate. Boundaries and extras can change the balance of a game within a handful of deliveries.

Raising eyebrows beyond the boundary, Moriarty replaced Connop T after only one over at the Paddock End, with Herridge, who rose to the moment with 1 for 1 from the six balls, bowling HH’s number 2 with his fifth delivery. Again the bowler was assisted by good wicket-keeping and fielding, notably by Bunker at cover. Herridge bowled extremely well throughout his spell, conceding only a few singles and fielding his own bowling athletically. His final figures were 1-7 from 3, also helped by some great fielding by his team-mates, notably, in addition to Bunker, Connop T, Tibbets H and Zolnowski-Bull.

The next over brought nods of comprehension from spectators: Connop T down the hill from the Pavilion End. Aided by some great keeping by Bumstead, only one run came from the bat from the first five of the over, but unfortunately the last went for four leg-byes. With a pace attack and short boundaries, two fielders behind might be an option (discuss!).

Keeping plenty of his pace attack in reserve, Moriarty was able to turn with confidence to his accurate medium-pacers. Tibbets J got HH’s number 3 bowled with his second ball and Tibbets H the number 4 with his first ever ball for HBBH! Moriarty interposed his own spell (1-5-3) with the Tibbets’s. After 15 overs, HH were 66 for 5. After Zolnowski-Bull’s excellent contribution, they were only 69 for 5! The medium pace of the Tibbets brothers and Zolnowski-Bull, and the spin of Moriarty, had superbly contained HH middle-order batting. They were assisted in this by determined and skilful fielding, notably by Beecher, Bond, Bunker, Connop T, Herridge and Hutton.

It is a testament to the strength of HBBH’s bowling that Moriarty could now ask Bunker and Beecher to bowl. Bunker produced almost unplayable outswing to end on figures of 0-7-2, fantastic statistics at this stage of the game, whilst Beecher conceded only one run from the bat in his cameo, a priceless contribution when HH were desperate to score runs with wickets in hand.

Bunker’s final six deliveries, the nineteenth half-dozen of HH’s innings, saw some entertaining batting from HH’s determined number 4 to bring his retirement on 25: a ramp behind leg and a lift to third-man; but yet more good fielding - by Bond and Zolnowski-Bull in particular - meant that, despite these flourishes, only four runs came from the over.

The twentieth, often the most dispiriting for a bowler in this format, fell to Hutton. Good running between the wickets and a four helped HH add 7 runs to their final total of 93 for the loss of 6 wickets, their number 7 having been run-out on the last ball coming back for a heedless but inevitable second; in short, a classic and honourable conclusion to a limited-over innings.

Despite the relatively low score, there could be no doubt that this was a duel between two good teams. HH had batted with style, but had been contained by accurate bowling (only 8 deliveries in all twenty overs had been wides or no balls) and, after one or two initial fumbles, excellent fielding.

Just how formidable opponents HH were can be judged by the HBBH score after the first four overs of their innings: 4 runs for the loss of one wicket (effectively two wickets as Bumstead was, unfortunately for HBBH, obliged to retire in order to attend a school engagement at the end of the fourth). The third and fourth overs had both been maidens, as Moriarty, facing the bulk of deliveries after a bye, was forced to play defensively forward to excellent line and length from the bowlers. He did this with some style, but the well-placed HH field prevented runs.

The fifth opened with five “dot” balls, this time to Connop T, who finally managed to “break the spell” with a nice shot off his legs for four. The sixth commenced with four “dot” balls, stoutly defended by Moriarty, who likewise was able to break the tension with a nice cut for four off the fifth and a single from the last. This was perhaps unfortunate, as, keeping the strike to face HH’s first bowling change, Moriarty found himself caught behind by the superb HH keeper in the next over. HBBH were 15 for 3 (effectively) after six overs and three balls.

This brought Bunker to the crease and fortunately off the mark with an edged single from her first ball and then a nice cut behind square for four. Bunker and Connop began an incident-packed partnership (Connop was dropped at midwicket and Bunker survived an inside edge that went for four and hit another boundary over the fielder at point’s head), importantly adding 34 to the score until Bunker was out bowled in the eleventh. HBBH were now closer to the required run-rate.

Hutton’s first ball went for four, edged high but out of third-man’s reach. After playing and missing in the next over, Connop hit the second of two magnificent straight fours along the ground, bringing up his retirement on 27, 24 of which were from boundaries.

The next 27 deliveries, however, were to see the game swing back seemingly firmly in HH’s favour. Hutton and his partners (Tibbets J, Bond and Tibbets H) struggled to score against accurate bowling and excellent fielding. The fifth wicket partnership added six runs and the sixth eleven. The fifteenth over was a double-wicket maiden: HBBH were 66 for the loss of seven wickets needing 28 to win.

Beecher (finally out to a lightning-quick stumping) and Zolnowski-Bull, however, stuck at it for a couple of overs each, running well, giving Hutton the opportunity to score three vital fours. Zolnowski-Bull got two nice runs with a tickle to fine-leg but was unfortunately out bowled the following delivery, the last of the eighteenth over. HBBH were suddenly 91 for nine with two overs in hand to get the three runs required. Although only one batter remained, this was Connop T, HBBH’s previously retired number 4, no “tail-ender”.

The turning Earth had now brought the sun seemingly beneath the cloud and warm light and dark shadows now alternated the ground.

Hutton cut to point and he and Connop T ran a quick single. Two “dot” balls followed. Connop T then played a lovely shot to long-off for another fast “one”. Now facing once more, Hutton glanced the next delivery behind square for four runs to win the game.

This game was marked by the evident competency of both teams (HH bowled only six wides and no no-balls). HBBH’s win was probably due to a greater number of boundaries from the bat: 12 to HH’s 4, highlighting the importance of either scoring them or stopping them, depending.

Another good win for HBBH, and a game that was a credit to both teams.