Result from BYCL Div 1 West U11 Fixture Monday 15th June :Kidmore End CC U11 Kestrels 129-1 (20 overs) LOST TO Henley CC U11 Cheetahs 130-3 (19.5 overs) by 7
wickets
Highlights : M.Crook 28 retd no, N.May 28 retd no, J.Day 18, A.Parke 1-0-6-1.
On a glorious Monday evening at Greys Green, Henley Cheetahs were set to test their unbeaten record against top of
the table Kidmore End Kestrels who were on a 4 match winning streak. With the sun shining and a small pitch, a run
fest was on the menu for the match. Cheetahs had dished up an exciting main course of brinkmanship so far this
season, with 2 wins on the final ball of both matches, and the gathered crowd of parents were hoping for a slightly less
stressful evening tonight....
Captain Josh Day called correctly at the toss, and put Kestrels in to bat with Tom Branch and Eddie Handley hoping to
continue their good early season form with the bat. Nathan May and Matt Crook opened with the ball for Henley, with
Kestrels scoring steadily and using the pace of the ball well. Branch in particular then took a liking to Josh Day and
Dan Kernicks opening spell as he went on the attack and placed the Cheetahs fielders under pressure.
Oscar Phelps then bowled a tidy spell to keep the run rate in check, but despite a fiery spell of fast bowling from
Tristan Flower, some scrappy Cheetahs fielding allowed Kestrels to keep the run rate at 7 an over with Branch retiring
in the 9th over.
Kestrels continued to push towards a big score, but Joel Trinder and Noah Cowan then both bowled tight spells with
Handley ticking off the runs to retirement. Finn Cowan and Angus Parke both bowled good overs, with Parke well
rewarded with a wicket. More untidiness in the field in the final 2 overs allowed Kestrels to post a mighty 129 for
Cheetahs to chase, a stiff target.
Angus Parke and Matt Crook were the men selected to start the run chase, with Parke yet to lose his wicket this
season. The sun was also starting to become an issue for the batsmen at the East end of the ground, as it set behind
the trees and shone directly into the batsmans eyes. The boys started steadily, but in the 3rd over Parke was caught in
front of his leg stump, and after some thought the umpire raised his finger.
Keeper Harry West was next in, immediately getting off the mark with a lovely looking drive. However, this only
ensured that facing the first ball of the next over he was looking directly into the sun, and as the ball came through at
waist height he was completely unsighted as it smashed into the stumps.
16-2 in the 5th over well behind the required run rate, Nathan May next in and a few tricky overs to negotiate whilst the
sun stayed above the tree line. Whilst May started steadily, in true form Crook then went on the attack to take the
game to Kestrels, striking some mighty blows.
In the space of 6 overs, Crook retired on 28 with the boys putting on 49 runs to bring Cheetahs back into the match.
Kestrels were continuing with their front line attack, bowling all but Handley out in an attempt to keep Cheetahs under
the cosh.
Josh Day had joined May at the wicket, with the roles of the previous partnership reversed as May went on the attack
with some glorious striking, taking 17 runs of his bat from the next 2 overs to see him to retirement off only 19 balls.
Cheetahs back on target, as Tristan Flower joined Day at the wicket.
Kestrels were starting to look under pressure, and with both batsmen still yet to get off the mark, Handley came back
on for his final over to try and get a couple of quick wickets. However, this was only met by 2 glorious boundaries from
Day, a straight drive over the top and a well struck pull.
Flower and Day continued to tick off runs to the target with good running and placement, although Kestrels bowling
remained tidy. Then with only a single coming off the 18th over, Cheetahs still required a hefty 16 runs of off the last
2.
With everyone on the edge of their seats and the match in the balance, the noise increasing from players and
supporters, Cheetahs took 6 runs off the 19th over. Still 10 needed, the swashbuckling Dan Kernick waiting in the
wings...
2 to Day off the first ball. He charged down the wicket on the second, missing on a big swing as the keeper took the
bails off. In strode Kernick, 4 balls left, 8 needed.
Bang went the first off his blade, dispatched to the boundary with nonchalance. Dot ball next up, still 4 needed off 2.
Kernick connected well with the 5th, the ball racing towards the boundary as the fielder made an attempt in vain to cut
it off, sealing victory with a ball left as the boys raced on to the pitch to congratulate the batsmen and applaud the
opposition.
If you ever find life starting to get a little boring, maybe get yourselves down to a Cheetahs match this season to liven
things up...