Undefeated U11s into play-off finals

The match against Weybridge on Friday was all about bowling indiscipline from both sides. Over the course of the indoor season I have been pleased with our bowling progress in that wides have decreased and we constantly make it difficult for the opposing sides to score off us. For some reason, our accuracy let us down on Friday evening, registering 80 in wides alone in a total of 123 scored by Weybridge.

Wides aside, we proved ourselves to be a fantastic fielding unit. Sharp catches from William Y at point, William B at square leg, Raymond at mid-on and Samuel with a sliding caught and bowled gave us 4 valuable wickets. Weybridge never really got going with the bat and were mainly  living off our wides. However, all bowlers when they delivered an accurate ball did well, with wickets coming from Samuel and the two Williams.

We needed to show some positive batting in response, but, as Raymond was bowled off the 3^rd ball of the innings, we realised we needed to show some caution whilst their main bowler proceeded to bowl out his allotment of 3 overs at the start. Weybridge’s plan was to take early wickets, and whilst we rode some luck at times we were able to pick off runs here and there. Callum was the pick of the batters and would have got to his retirement much quicker if he hadn’t hit the ceiling 4 or 5 times. Joshua and William B then formed a solid partnership together, but the match suddenly swung our way with Weybridge faltering with a succession of no-balls. In fact it got quite difficult to know which balls were free hits or not.

William B, christening his new birthday bat, made 24 before he was caught, leaving Joshua undefeated and we ended up coasting home with 2 overs to spare.

We have now finished the league format, with the fantastic feat of winning all 9 games. This Friday is play-off night, so we play Ewell at 6 pm, hoping that we qualify for the final against Hampton or Weybridge after their game. Our bowling accuracy will have to improve if we are to be crowned champions.

Darren Wing