Warm temperatures and clear skies greeted the players for the third match of our Shropshire League Regional Central East Division campaign. It was the first use of Pitch 10 which had been originally prepared for the clash with Newport but had been hastily revived for a surprise home fixture and was a good batting wicket but offered pace, bounce, and plenty of turn to the bowlers.

Our usual opening bowlers of Oliver and Arch set to work and whilst Oliver kept things tight Arch was a little bit loose with his first over before in his second over he caused Shifnal’s opener to hurry his shot and Jack took the catch at mid-on to leave them at 17-1. They were 24-2 after Skipper Oliver threw the ball to leg spinner Harvey and prodigious turn took the edge of the other opening batsman as Sam pulled off a great catch. Harvey then continued to trouble Shifnal by running Shifnal’s number four out when his bowling partner Arran’s stingy deliveries put scoreboard pressure on the batting side.

With the visitors struggling at 28-3 it was the arrival at the crease of their number 5 to join the Shifnal skipper which breathed new life into their innings. They set about the bowling and had put on a match changing 72 before Harvey found a bit of extra turn and bounce and accounted for the Shifnal captain who picked out Arch at mid-off for 33. With Shifnal’s partnership broken it was only a matter of time before his partner also fell as Oliver brought himself back on at the “Farmyard” end and he was caught by Jack at third man for 30. With Arch and Arran being brought back on by our Skipper to assist in keeping the scoreline down the runs had increased by only 13 to 124/5 by the time innings closed. We felt this was a competitive score and our batsmen would need to be somewhere near to their best form.

Unfortunately our top order mis-fired as Harvey and Arran opened the batting and were immediately in difficulties due to the excellence of Shifnal’s opening bowlers. Both were highly accurate and getting the ball to move off the slope when bowling from the “Farmyard” end. Arran was bowled second ball for 1 when he decided to leave a ball 3 inches outside his off stump and the slope did the rest! Arch then came in and received a perfect Yorker second ball and walked back to the pavilion with another duck. Harvey didn’t last much longer as he played all around a straight delivery and was plumb leg before! We were 4 for 3 (echoes of our first match) when Church skipper Oliver and James came in but unfortunately this time there was no happy ending. James made a very careful start but when Oliver lost his composure in the 6th over and was caught going for a shot over the top he soon followed - caught behind for 15.

With Church 32-5 with Oscar and Jack in the middle it was now only a matter of whether we could bat our overs. Oscar produced a superb effort on his debut for the U15s with 10 not out but unfortunately no one was able to stay with him and ultimately we succumbed to 60 all out with 4 balls remaining.

Harvey was man of the match for his performances with the ball and in the field but he was run close by James and Oscar with the bat, Oliver with the ball, Jack in the field and Arch with the ball and in the field.

Thanks go to all parents for giving their support but with particular thanks to Mike and Laura for opening up the pavilion and managing the kitchen/bar area, Wayne for assisting behind the bar, Gav for operating the scoreboard and putting away the boundary rope (with the assistance of players and Mike) and Loz for putting out and bringing in the marker discs. Thanks also to my fellow coach - Paul for putting out the stumps and scoring the match. Also thanks for our debutants - Oscar and Ollie S who gave a great account of themselves and for Henry who stepped in as 12th man.