U15 Match Report - Away v Allscott Heath - 16th June

Very hot temperatures and clear skies greeted the players for the sixth match of our Shropshire League Regional Central East Division campaign. The venue was very impressive so it was a pity that the pitch was poor - clearly not having been cut, swept or re-painted since the previous use.

Arran and Harvey opened the batting for Church and struggled to get going against quality opening bowling. Arran was unable to continue his recent fine batting form and was out LBW on 11 off 28 deliveries with the score on 33. Arch came in to join Harvey in the middle and the pair had only managed to add 9 to the score when Harvey was out caught on 13 from 22 balls. He was replaced in the middle by James who quickly got into his stride alongside Arch to raise the run-rate and keep the score ticking over nicely. By the time James fell to a catch behind off a thin edge on 20 the partnership had reached 59 and James had 33 of those runs - scored off only 26 balls. Fred joined Arch as the pair added a dozen runs - to bring up our innings total of 113 - Arch not out with 22 off 33 balls and Fred not out with 7 off 11.

I felt that our total was about 20 runs light and that we would have to bowl very well to win as our usual opening bowlers of Arch & Oliver took the ball. They bowled the first 4 overs between them and Arch was Scrooge-like whilst Oliver sent a few wides down before picking up a bowled wicket to leave them at 7-1. They were 21-2 after Arch was kept on for his full allocation and knocked out the opener’s middle stump with a rapid delivery - finishing with figures of 4 overs, 1 for 9. Oliver replaced himself with leg spinner Harvey who bowled the number four for a duck to leave them on 28-3. Allscott’s best player was still there and beginning to make a nuisance of himself when Arran found the edge of the number three and Sam took a lovely catch behind the stumps to send him packing for 22 off 20 deliveries.

Fred’s leg-spin accounted for the AH number 5 to give him a wicket in his last ever junior game as Arran took the catch before debutant Henry picked up his first ever U15 wicket as Arch took the catch. James then produced a masterful piece of bowling in his solitary over as he took a hat-trick with his first 3 deliveries - caught Oliver, LBW and bowled before completing his maiden to leave the home side in deep trouble on 66-9. Although our opponents rallied somewhat it was only a matter of time before Jack’s off-spin took the final wicket with one ball remaining of the 19th over as Allscott Heath were all out for 80.

Everyone contributed with the ball and in the field but James was man of the match for his performance with the bat & ball - run close by Arch with the bat, ball and in the field and Sam with the gloves.

Thanks go to all parents for giving their support and to Ade for assisting with the scoring.

Post Script: having wondered how Allscott Heath had managed to restrict our batting it was only when checking Play Cricket that I noticed they had only used five bowlers when the league rules stipulate that six must be used.