Match Report v St Lucy School

With back to back defeats and batting collapses the pressure was on for some of our key players and the team to raise their game in a match we simply had to win!! Changes in the batting order were made to try a provide more depth to the line up and bring about a stop to the rot. Sadly we did not get off to the start we desired as Dias fell cheaply along with Young who's dismissal was one of the most bizarre ever seen! Prakash and Haigh set about repairing the sinking boat with some patient and constructive batting. Singles were very much the main source of runs as we tried to keep wickets in hand. Having put on a good 30 run partnership both players then fatally ran themselves out in close succession. Freddie Thomas and Harry Howarth swiftly followed, leaving us staring down the barrel once again! Saif Chaudhary and Jack McHugh then set about a very mature partnership which would start to lay the foundations for a defendable total. Some patient and watchful stroke play combined with good running between the wickets allowed them to forge a partnership of 25, going some way to putting us back on track before Chaudhary fell for a well made 16. Enter Joe Young! With runs at a premium but few wickets to play with Joe decided it was time to take the game to the opposition. After a patient start Joe set about pushing our total towards and beyond 3 figures. 2 powerful hits for 4 and one huge blow for six saw Joe finish undefeated on 27 and the team reach the lofty total of 116. Special mention must also go to Jack McHugh who was undefeated on 8 and supported both Chaudhary and Young brilliantly.

With spirits high after a improved batting display we set about taking early wickets. No later than the 2nd ball did we have our first victim, Oli Young clean bowling the opening batsmen with a full, swinging delivery. The pressure was now on the opposition and it was Young who would starike again, trapping the other opening batsmen lbw with the 2nd ball of his 2nd over. A good partnership between batters 3 and 4 halted our progress before the introduction of Chaudhary brought the vital wicket required. Wickets now began to fall at regular intervals as Chaudhary, Kreibich and Howarth all bowled with excellent control, Kreibich only conceding 12 runs from his 7 overs. Howarth picked up two quick wickets which left us requiring only 3 more for victory. However, the dangerous Springer was still at the crease and looking to dominate out attack. Dias turned back to his pace attack and right on cue Freeman found the key to the chest as he found Springer's outside edge, Young taking care of the rest. Dias then took a tidy stumping from Howarth leaving us requiring only 1 wicket to win. Feeling in charitable spirits St Lucy decided to gift us our final wicket courtesy of a run out, sparking scenes of great joy from all the boys on the field and  those watching from the pavillion. A hard earnt and mature victory had come by the slender margin of 8 runs.

The hard work of Chaudhary, Prakash, Haigh, McHugh and notably Joe Young illustrated just what is possible if we put our minds to the task. Oli Young bowled with pace and aggression and provided the early wickets necessary to push forward towards victory. Joe's exploits saw him rewarded by Mr Mutton-Burke with 3 scoops of ice-cream after dinner, sadly they were the choices of Mr Mutton and Mr Brown. Joe was last seen at 3am desperately trying to see off the last mouthful of cotton candy flavour!

AGB