Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com
Last updated 01-Nov-2009.
Match Report
I'm never sure how much I enjoy our boys doling out a thrashing. In a way I did feel sorry for the Portsmouth lads, most of whom were year 9, and a couple in their first year of competitive cricket. But the game will be memorable for the last few overs and the emergence of a new star.
It was a glorious morning where the neighbouring beach was almost as inviting as a game of cricket. It wasn't long before Sam Floyd opened his shoulders with 3 fours and a six in the 2nd over. We were barely in over number 5 when Sam retired for 52 (from 20 balls, 8 fours and 2 sixes). Matt Spicer had been going quietly about his business, supporting both Sam and the in-coming Fraser Moon, who was also in the mood. Both Sam and Fraser cleared sixes into the golf club nearby, the Portsmouth boys really suffering in the sun, and it might have been a sympathy vote from the umpire to give Matt out lbw for 13 when it did seem a tad high from my viewpoint of wide third man! 96 had been scored for the first wicket, the opening partnership averaging 66 for the last four games. James Kershaw had his first bat of the season and, just like last summer, hit his first ball to the boundary but he was bowled by the home side's best bowler for 5. 114-2 at 10 overs, Fraser and Will Jacobs really put them to the sword and after Fraser retired for 50, Tom Hopkins appeared and added more misery. It was noticeable that the fielders kept their act together despite this battery, still saving a number of runs with good attitude. Will (54) smashed a lovely straight six to clinch his half-century and Tom was caught well for 17 in the last over. Jack Vaas got in on the act by hitting a straight driven four, meaning that only Jordan Waller of the batsmen had failed to hit at least one boundary. He did have an excuse though as he was at the non-striker's end for the final three balls of the innings, the duration of his knock.
Our score of 217-3 was clearly a winning score and there was little point in letting retirees Sam, Fraser or Will loose with the ball unless by a faint chance victory was threatened. With only 10 boys present, Jordan Waller's 12-year old sister Devon was pressed into action and made a couple of stops on the boundary to keep the runs down early on. Jordan and James Kershaw accounted for the two openers after a stand of 33 and then wickets fell regularly. It was good to see Ollie Challis (now leading wicket taker with 9) capture two with some lovely flight, one a catch from Jordan Waller and the other a neat stumping from Matt Spicer. Despite being hit for 10 runs in the first two balls of his 2nd over, Ollie's figures were a masterful 4-0-15-2. Jordan took his second catch to give Tom Farley a wicket but no-one could get the number 3 batsman out, who had progressed serenely to 35 with 4 overs left. At this time the score was 90-5 and with a rate of 32 runs per over required, Devon Waller came into the attack. With flight that Sir Mike Brogan would envy, her second ball tempted the top scorer into a drive taken at mid-off by Tom Farley to evoke ecstatic scenes among the Sarisbury team and controlled hilarity from the batsman's team-mates. Devon finished with 1-8 off her 2 overs and further wickets fell from the final two balls of the match as Jack Vaas trapped one leg before and Matt Spicer pulled off an easy run out.
106-8 meant Sarisbury were winners by 111 runs. Devon deservedly led the team off to great applause - I think all the lads and our supporters would have this down as the highlight of the season so far but perhaps there were mixed emotions for Tom Farley and Ollie Challis, knowing that their roles of spin kings of the U15As are under threat.
