U15 Match Report - Away v Shifnal - 30th June

32c heat on the hottest day of the year greeted the players for the return fixture away to Shifnal in a 1st v 2nd top of the table clash with the away team batting first.

Our usual opening pair of Arran and Harvey were back in harness as they set about batting in a mature and steady fashion - starting carefully and steadily building momentum through the early overs. By the time we had reached the 2nd ball of the 10th over the score was 45-0 when Arran was bowled by the spinner for 20 off 28 deliveries. Oliver promoted himself up the order and came in at number three but then in the same over Harvey departed too - caught at short extra cover for 18 off 29 balls.

Arch then came in at number four and was assisting Oliver - who had made a bright start - by helping him retain the strike when he received a perfect Yorker sent down by the bearded Shifnal quick with the score at 62-3 in the 12th over. James came in at an unfamiliar number five but soon began to look his familiar self as he and his skipper took command of the situation and took us to 107 in the 18th over. Oddly the Shifnal spinner only returned for his 2nd over at this late stage and took the scalp of our skipper (bowled) to finish with 3 wickets for 9 runs whilst Oliver walked back with a very impressive 33 off 22 deliveries.

Fortunately (and bizarrely) the spinner made no further appearances as James was joined in the middle by debutant Johnathan (on temporary loan from Little Stoke). Johnathan was quickly into his stride as he made 5 off 8 balls before he lost sight of a ball he had edged and was run out by the keeper as he set off down the track in the final over. Jack arrived with 3 balls remaining but immediately got James on strike with a quick single and with great running on the final ball the team had amassed a useful 121-5 off our 20 overs. James himself had once again provided essential resilience as he walked off with a well constructed unbeaten 24 at a run a ball.

Our usual opening bowler Arch was paired with Arran by the skipper and very unusually was hit back over his head by the Shifnal opener in the first over as he went for two boundaries. Fortunately Arran was less expensive in the second over before Arch returned to his usual economy in his second over.

Arran then set to work dismantling the Shifnal openers in his own second over as Johnathan took a catch which reduced Shifnal to 16-1. Arran followed this with getting the Shifnal opener trapped leg before in his 3rd over by setting him up beautifully with two slower balls in succession before delivering the quicker one whilst Arch kept things tight with his remaining two overs. Arran kept up the pressure with four dots in his final over as he took the edge of Shifnal’s number three and Sam neatly took the catch behind to leave the home side reeling at 36-3 off 8 overs.

They were 40-4 after Skipper Oliver threw the ball to leg spinner Harvey and with just enough turn he bowled the Shifnal skipper. Our skipper went for only two runs in his first over before Harvey then continued to trouble Shifnal by almost getting the number six caught at short extra cover as Arch grabbed it one handed but couldn’t hold on. Arch then made up for this by running out the same batsman off the very next ball with a great gather, turn and throw as he knocked over the stumps from 10 yards.

With the home side struggling at 42-5 it was Oliver’s captaincy which kept up the pressure by turning first to his more experienced bowlers. After he and Harvey had finished their tidy spells it was James and Jack who took three wickets (all bowled) in 3 overs as Shifnal faltered to only 63-8 in the 18th over. Wes then bowled the 19th and Lauren held her nerve superbly at the death by keeping things tight as Jack completed the job with a run out and Shifnal finished well short of our total at only 78-9.

Oliver was man of the match for his superb leadership and decision making and performances with the bat and ball but he was run very close by Arran, James and Harvey with both bat and ball.

Thanks go to all parents for giving their support and to my fellow coach, Paul for scoring the match. Also thanks to our debutant - Johnathan - who gave a great account of himself with the bat and in the field.