Result from BYCL Div 1 West U11 Fixture Sunday 10th May :Bradfield CC U11s 87-6 (20 overs) LOST TO Henley CC U11 Cheetahs 88-9 (20 overs) by 1 wicket.
Cheetahs opening fixture of the 2015 season was an away trip to picturesque Bradfield Southend, and whilst there
was plenty of anticipation of the match ahead from both teams, little would the watching crowd have expected the
drama to unfold in a game of epic swings of fortune.
Bradfield won the toss, and elected to bat, with Dan Kernick and Tristan Flower opening the bowling for Cheetahs.
After a few rusty deliveries, both boys then started to hit their line and length as Flower cleaned up the opener with a
fiery ball in his second over. With first change bowlers Matt Crook and Nathan May on, Bradfield were struggling to
push the score on, as Crook then bowled the remaining opener and May removed the new batsmans stumps to keep
the brakes on. Cheetahs were looking sharp in the field, with some excellent stops out in the deep from Noah Cowan
and Oscar Phelps, and Josh Day tidy behind the stumps ensuring that Bradfield didn't build momentum.
Oscar Phelps started his Henley career in fine style, with some accurate leg spin well rewarded with a wicket maiden
as Nathan May held onto a sharp chance at short mid on. Bradfield were trying to break the shackles, and would have
been in serious trouble if a couple of catches and some clear run out chances had been taken. Cheetahs bowling
remained tight, with Angus Parke and Joel Trinder taking a further 2 wickets, but Bradfield managed to push on in the
last few overs and post a decent score of 87.
Cheetahs were confident at the break of reaching the target, although the big boundaries and long grass meant that
sharp running would be required. However, the magnificent spell from the Bradfield opening bowler changed the
picture completely....
Nathan May and Matt Crook were used to taking apart opposition bowlers with their aggressive batting and running,
but after being pinned back with 2 quick and accurate deliveries, May was bowled on the 3rd. Crook got the score
moving in the second over with a well struck pull for four, but an incredible 3rd over including 2 unplayable swinging
deliveries saw Crook, Flower and Day all back in the clubhouse and dreaming of easier days.
Cheetahs needed to consolidate, but with continued good bowling and a few injudicious shots, they got themselves
into serious trouble at 32-8 after 9 overs. The Bradfield supporters were whooping and hollering at every wicket and
dot ball, the Cheetahs supporters looking shell shocked, with the only consolation of an early lunch. However, as has
been proved time and again over the last 2 seasons, you write Cheetahs off at your own peril....
The important thing now was for Joel Trinder and Angus Parke to try and build some sort of a partnership, play straight
to the good balls, and punish the bad ones, and at least put some respectability to the scoreboard. Parke was like an
immovable object, our very own Rahul Dravid as he formed a wall with the straight face of his bat, Trinder looking busy
at the other end and keeping the score moving.
The overs ticked by, the score moved on, and both boys were still at the wicket, as they passed 50, then 60, then
70..... The Bradfield support had quietened, there was a murmur of anticipation from the Cheetahs support as the
whole team suddenly realised what was going on. Then after a partnership of 40 runs, Trinder followed a four with a
ball lofted to mid on which was gratefully pouched by Bradfield. But what a great effort to put his team in with a slim
chance.
Last man in was Finn Cowan on his debut for the team, looking nervous but focussed on the task in hand as he strode
out to the middle to be greeted by Parke. 4 overs left, 16 runs required, and the opening bowler back on, surely the
impossible couldn't happen....
Out came the full face of the Parke bat, as the Bradfield bowler got increasingly frustrated, a wild wide delivery going
for 3 runs. And still the boys kept the match alive, the runs ticked off, just 3 needed off the last over and Parke facing.
The Bradfield bowler was doing Cheetahs no favours with every delivery on the mark, as the boys could only scramble
a single off the fourth ball. Two balls left, 2 needed to win. Dot ball. Just one ball left, and Finn Cowan facing. The ball
on his pads as a glorious connection of bat on ball sent it haring through the cordon of fielders in chase, as the boys
sprinted through for the 2 runs needed to win the match ! An heroic rearguard action from the team, I now believe in
Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy and that England will one day win the Cricket World Cup...