Junior Journo competition winners
Warwickshire Bears v Hampshire Royals, Clydesdale Bank 40 Final
Match report by Harry Bond – winner of the ECB’s Junior Journo competition
Under 11 category
Hampshire claimed their first CB40 title last night, beating Warwickshire in an enthralling and entertaining match to wrap
up this year’s domestic campaign…
It was a sunny day at Lord’s with Warwickshire favourites, having prolific England ace Ian Bell back in their ranks. Despite
that, Michael Carberry got Hampshire off to a quick start finding the gaps in Jim Troughton’s field whilst often smacking
Chris Woakes through cover and mid-wicket. Though bowling at Vince, the Bears bowlers beat the edge on numerous
occasions.
The opening partnership carried on and turned into a brilliant one rotating the strike and striking the odd ball with power,
but this was brought to a close by Neil Carter, James Vince the man picking out deep-square for 18.
Chris Woakes at the other end though (still getting hit) got swapped with Ian Blackwell, though the spinner seemed a little
wayward through his spell of 8 overs.
Throughout the mid stage in the innings, Sean Ervine and Jimmy Adams were destructive - their partnership was the main
reason Hampshire reached a respectable 244.
As the 2nd innings became established, the Bears too got off to a good start, with Varun Chopra and Darren Maddy
despatching Hampshire’s poor bowling; at this point, Bears fans were screaming “YOU BEARS”!
As Chopra was dismissed, Maddy and Bell put together a valuable partnership only to end in a disappointing manner Maddy, on 35, pulling a long-hop from Liam Dawson straight to the one man out at mid-wicket.
The Bears batsmen all walked out to bat with determined attitude when required, and many were, as wickets tumbled in
clusters leaving the Bears down and out with Ian Bell their only hope, flicking and driving fours all around the park.
However, with his score being on 81 and the Bears 218, he spanked a ball from Griffiths to deep mid-wicket and was
caught by Carberry.
With the Bears fans now gloomy and packing their bags, neither Ian Blackwell or Neil Carter could help the cause, only
Chris Woakes’ nudging and nurdling; his effort took the Bears needing 1 off the final ball to win. It was to be bowled by
Birmingham born Kabir Ali.
As Ali ran in, Lord’s was monstrous with a wave of cheers and screams, but to the Royals delight, he kept his nerve and
bowled a sublime out swinging yorker which Carter could only swing at… and miss...
Hampshire won on the loss of fewer wickets, the Royals screamed, the Bears groaned…
ENDS
Royals take the crown in last ball thriller,
by Sam Pearson – winner of the ECB’s Junior
Journo competition 12-16 year old category
Hampshire Royals 244-5 (Adams 66, Ervine 57) beat Warwickshire
Bears 244-7 (Bell 81; Wood 3-39) by fewer wickets lost.
Jim Troughton won a good toss and put the Hampshire Royals into bat on what looked to be
a good bowling surface.
Both sides were missing key players - Warwickshire being without Jonathon Trott through
injury, and Hampshire were missing one of their leading wicket takers in Danny Briggs who
is with England for the World t20 and Dimitri Mascarenhas through injury.
Michael Carberry and James Vince made their way to the middle to open, as Neil Carter
prepared to bowl the first ball to Carberry as the “clash of the titans” began. These two
teams had everything to play as they were both playing for double silverware as the Royals
won the Friends Life t20 and the Bears took home the Division 1 title in the LV= County
Championship.
After first ten overs, the Royals run rate was 6.7. Vince found himself the first scalp of
Warwickshire’s strong attack for 18, magnificently caught by Jeetan Patel off Neil Carter’s
bowling breaking the 48 run opening stand.
The Bears did not have too much to celebrate after Hampshire’s captain fantastic Jimmy
Adams came to the crease and joined Carberry to carry on the tradition of which he had
begun. Michael Carberry was looking like repeating his knock against Sussex after powering
35 off 31 with a SR of 112.9. This set a benchmark of which Hampshire aspired to. Wright
was Carberry’s eventual nemesis, chipping one to Patel who had already caught Vince.
Adams quickly got into his stride with runs being scored at will, finding the boundary five
times, smashing one maximum. Eventually Adams lost his bails courtesy of Chris Woakes for
a respectable 66 off 70 balls at the end of the 32nd over.
After the loss of Carberry, Neil McKenzie found himself next inline. At this point 11 overs
had passed and the Royals were 70-2. McKenzie did what all wise men would and
attempted to play himself in, however he was clean bowled by the experienced Ian
Blackwell for a useful 19 off 36 balls.
On Sean Ervine’s arrival Hampshire were on 171-4 with a steady run rate of over 5 per over.
Ervine wasted no time in scoring consistently as he scored off his maiden ball. He later
tickled one to the keeper Ambrose who took it with a measure of skill off Darren Maddy,
and he was on his way for a notable 57 off 55, timing 7 boundaries to perfection.
Simon Katich (who replaced Adams) devastated the Bears attack walloping 34* off 26 balls
striking 5 fours. Hampshire finished with 244-5 after 40 overs with a run rate of 6.1.
The Bears now had score as quickly as The Royals.
Two contrasting batsmen were on opening duty for Warwickshire, Darren Maddy and Varun
Chopra.
The Bears opening batsman made an impressive start putting a partnership of 52 without
loss after the first 10 overs. Varun Chopra finally succumbed to a fine delivery from Chris
Woods caught by Jimmy Adams for 26 off 36. This brought the very talented Ian Bell to the
crease.
Bell set about creating mayhem for the Royals attack and boy did it happen! He obliterated
them, sending 10 balls to the rope and over en-route to his timely 81 off 81 that seemed to
put the Bears back on top. He departed in the 37th over after placing one into the Velcro
hands of Carberry off Griffiths. At this point Warwickshire were 218-6 and required 27 off
the last eighteen balls.
During Bell’s masterpiece Maddy departed on 35 thanks to Wood catching him off Dawson,
he had faced 44 balls and hit 3 fours.
This bought Ambrose to the crease and he put on a fight scoring 26 off 30, before falling to
Wood, caught by his opposite number Michael Bates who did well to hold the ball as it was
a sharp chance.
Captain Jim Troughton was the next scalp to lose his wicket, caught by Adams off the
bowling of Ervine in the very next over scoring a very disappointing 5 off 5.
It was now Clarke’s turn now to face the very determined bowling of the Royals.
Warwickshire now required 96 off the last 12 overs; Clarke made a very calculated start,
knocking the ball about and scoring consistently. He eventually fell, bowled by Wood as he
took his third.
Now came the turn of Chris Woakes - the young hope for the Bears. He set about chasing
down the 245 that was set by Hampshire for the win. He forged 24* off 16 powering four 4s
with a strike rate of 150.
In the final over the Bears required 7 to be crowned Clydesdale Bank 40 champions. Ali was
up to bowl this crucial over. The first ball was to Blackwell and he got a single. Second ball,
to Woakes this time, another single. Ali to Blackwell for the second time, got him! Ali clean
bowled Ian Blackwell for 2. Carter comes to the crease – who had not scored a run in this
format this year. With three balls to go and five needed there was no margin for error. The
next ball really shook this finale up, as it is a dot ball. Suddenly it’s back in the balance as
Carter punches through the off for four. Now just one off one needed the scores are level.
Ali to Carter, this could all go pear shaped for either team this next ball decides their fate. Ali
to Carter, DOT BALL! Scores level!
Hampshire are victors in this truly astounding match both teams gave it their all however
Hampshire had the edge by losing fewer wickets and they very much deserved it.
Jimmy Adams led by example after winning man of the match.
What a game, what an electrical atmosphere, this is what a proper Lord’s final is, this is
what you call a game of cricket. Exceptional cricket played by both sides. What is human life
but a game of cricket?
ENDS