Home v Allscott Heath - 5th May 2025

Cool temperatures and cloudy overheads greeted the players for the start of our Shropshire League Regional Central East Division campaign.

It was the fifth and last use of Pitch 3 which had over 300 overs by the end of the home clash v Allscott Heath and offered pace, bounce, seam and plenty of turn to the bowlers whilst also showing that runs could be scored by a diligent and courageous batter.

As with the new rules for this season the away team bats first so our usual opening bowlers of Oliver and Arch set to work and kept things fairly tight for 4 overs before Skipper Oliver threw the ball to leg spinner Harvey. Allscott Heath’s captain had made a solid if steady start against our pace attack but Harvey soon had him in all sorts of trouble - getting prodigious turn when bowling from the car park end. With the score at 19 Harvey produced a perfectly flighted delivery which pitched on leg stump and hit the top of off - leaving the AH skipper shaking his head in disbelief as he walked off with a well constructed 15. For the following 5 overs Harvey and Arran were Scrooge-like as they reduced AH to 25 for 3 at the halfway point - Jack taking a great catch at mid-on off Harvey’s bowling and Arran producing a fine C&B.

Encouraged by Harvey’s excellent bowling Oliver decided to keep him on for his final over but whether it was the change of ends or fatigue he struggled to find his length and the AH number 6 spoiled his figures by taking him for two sixes.

Fred and James then continued the bowling from the village end and with AH having recovered well to reach 54 it was James who made the breakthrough - removing the number five - bowled - for 19 with a swinging delivery followed by the big-hitting number 6 - also for 19 - as Harvey took the catch at deep extra cover with the batter trying to clear the rope again!

Church then cycled through the rest of our bowlers whilst the fielding team tried to keep the runs down - with notable work by Sam, Jake and Wes - all showing great technique.

With the ball Emelia and Jack kept things super tight in the late overs with Jack’s off-sinners probably turning too much before he got his reward with the final ball of the innings with Oliver finally getting close enough to take the catch (the ball had followed him all evening). Church were well pleased with their performance at the interval with AH having made 97 for 6 from their 20 overs.

Harvey and Arran opened the batting for Church and were immediately in difficulties due to the excellence of the opening bowlers. Both were highly accurate and getting the ball to both swing and seam and following a maiden by the female bowler the second over produced a double wicket maiden! First Arran was given out leg before wicket and then Arch got a golden duck when he received what can only be described as a ‘Jaffa’. We were 3 for 4 in the third over after Harvey scored a boundary before giving a simple catch to the following delivery.

Fortunately for Church with James and Fred in the middle things began to look up as they set about the difficult task with clarity, maturity and no little enterprise. By the time the fourth wicket fell - Fred being bowled by an excellent delivery in the tenth over - a fifty partnership had taken the score to 59. Enter stage right our skipper Oliver who decided that the time was right to take the aerial route as he scored 25 not out including five fours ably assisted by James who finished on 24 not out. By the time the 16th over had come around both batsmen were looking comfortable as the winning runs were scored and we won with 98 for 4.

James was man of the match for his performances with both bat and ball but he was run close by Oliver with the bat and Harvey with the ball.

Thanks go to all parents for giving their support but with particular thanks to Ade for scoring, Gav for operating the scoreboard and putting away the boundary rope (aided by some of the players) and for Wayne, Yvonne and Charlotte for staffing the bar.