Cool temperatures and cloudy skies greeted the players for the visit of Wellington - league leaders of the Shropshire League Regional Central East Division. It was the fifth and last use of Pitch 5 which had already had 300 overs on it by the start of the match and proved to be a good batting surface but offered pace, bounce, and turn to the bowlers.

Our usual opening bowlers of Oliver and Arch set to work from the car park end and Oliver made a quick breakthrough - taking the Wellington skipper’s scalp with a caught & bowled off his 4th delivery whilst the younger player kept things very tight as usual. Captain Oliver then threw the ball to Vice Skipper Arran for the 5th over and a second wicket was soon added as the Welligog number three departed with a duck egg - bowled with the last ball of the over. Wellington’s opener had made a slow start against our opening pace attack but decided to launch into James’ bowling as the medium pacer took the ball in the 8th over - taking him for 11 runs off the over.

It was at this point that our skipper turned the match sharply in our favour as he brought himself back on in the 9th over. A couple of short-pitched deliveries - the first going for a boundary and the second a wide - set him up nicely for the 3rd ball yorker which hit the batsman right on his toes from a steep angle and elicited an easy LBW decision from the umpire. In came the number 5 only to be sent back to the pavilion for a golden duck as Oliver once again gave the umpire a plumb leg before decision. With Oliver on a hat-trick the incoming number six just managed to survive but it was just a brief stay of execution as James’ second over saw him bowled for 4. The introduction of Harvey soon had an impact - the leg-spinner getting some turn when bowling from the farmyard end. James caught one in Harvey’s first over then he bowled two with balls 5 and 6 to leave Wellington reeling on 64/8 off 13 overs.

With Fred bowling first pace and then spin he dried up the runs whilst Harvey’s potential hat-truck remained forever hanging in the wind as Jack took his place. Jack, Wes and Emelia kept things tight over the next 3 overs before Jake was introduced and produced a lovely over - taking the 9th wicket (bowled) for only 3 runs. Emelia was given the death over and mopped up the tail as James took the catch with 3 balls still remaining to leave Wellington at 89 all out at the innings break.

Harvey and Arran opened the batting for Church and were quickly put onto the back foot due to the excellence of the opening bowlers. Both were finding good line & length and the second over produced a wicket as Arran was bowled for a duck to leave us on 6/1. Arran was replaced by brother James and as has now become usual he established a solid foundation for the team as generally sensible batting allowed he and Harvey to put on a 61 run partnership.

When Harvey was bowled for 24 in the 11th over we were 67/2 but well in control of the match. Arch came in at number 4 and James immediately tried to run him out only for a poor piece of fielding from the visitors to spare his blushes! By the time the 16th over had come around both batsmen were looking comfortable with Church on 87/2 and just three runs short of victory when James called for a run that wasn’t there and a very unhappy Arch departed for 9! Jack then entered the fray, the winning runs were duly scored and we won with 92/3.

Oliver was man of the match for his match changing captaincy and performance with the ball but he was run close by James with the bat, in the field and with the ball and also Harvey with bat and ball. Our bowling and fielding were excellent so kudos to every single one of our players.

Thanks go to all parents for giving their support but with particular thanks to Wayne for manning the bar, Gav for operating the scoreboard and John for bringing in the marker discs. Thanks also to my fellow coach - Paul for scoring the match xx