The U15’s league season began with a home fixture against Wallington, whose COVID years had prevented them from playing much cricket. In fact, on the night, they turned up with only 9 players. Robin, for the home team won the toss against Ryan, and chose to bowl first, much to the surprise of the team manager.

The team has a number of players capable of opening the bowling, and on the night, Dilshaan and Isaac were chosen. Dilshaan, with his smooth run-up and ever-reliable accuracy, returned figures of 2-1-4-0, whilst Isaac struggled more with his line, but finished with a respectable 0-13 from his two. Wallington were on 19 after 4 overs. Ben and Freddie were the change bowlers, and although he did bowl a number of wides, Freddie clean bowled Liam the Wallington no.1 for 15; Ben was tight and finished 2-0-5-0. Tom K has always been one of our best bowlers, and he and Sam Cox the new boy completed the first 10 overs of the innings, with Wallington 51-1. Tom then took the second wicket in a wicket-maiden to leave the visitors 51-2.

Joe and Jai were the next to bowl in tandem - each taking a wicket and again, runs were not easy to come by. With 4 overs left Wallington were 77-4 and looking for a strong finish. John and Robin were the final pair to bowl, and although he took a wicket, Robin’s pace was used by good effect by Riley and Usaid who hit three boundaries off his bowling. John was slightly off his usual best and finished with 0-13 from his two. Halfway in the match and Wallington had set a competitive 110 for victory.

John and Josh, fresh from the only 50-partnership that anyone can recall for this team, were asked for a repeat performance. Sadly, both fell to good bowling in the first two overs and the home team were in trouble at 0-2. Yikes! There have been many permutations of the Marus-Paulett axis at the club over the last few years. They often end in a run-out. This combination batted with purpose and discipline until Robin had a brain-fart, attempting to call Freddie for an impossible run. Freddie rightly declined the run and Robin was unable to make his ground with the pair one short of a 50 partnership. When Jai was caught just a few balls later for 3, and Freddie retired shortly after for an excellent 30n.o. there were still 50 needed from the rest of the team.

I don’t think it’s unfair to say that in previous years, 50 runs from 10 overs from batsmen 6-11 might have been beyond us, and even though Joe had enjoyed a glorious 27 v Hermes, the home support was jittery. However, we need not have worried. Joined by Sam “Coxy” Cox, (playing his first ever competitive match!), Joe stroked his way gloriously to 25n.o. with Coxy chipping in a marvellous 13n.o. including his first ever boundary. Target achieved in the 18th over and victory by 6 wickets.

All credit to Wallington, whose boys were relentlessly cheerful and sporting, despite the handicap of playing with just 9 players. We look forward to the return match and renewing our friendship.

One league game in, and the team looks very accomplished. Runs are now no longer scored by just the usual suspects - there is a feeling that any one of a number of them can now bat to retirement. Our one weak area remains the tendency to bowl way too many wides, and this is something that Harry wants to work on. It may be that we start to specialise with bowlers and batsmen. In 20 over cricket, where ten players bowl 2 overs each, but only the top order bat, it seems that 8, 9, 10, 11 are getting less game time. I’d like to see more games where the top-order leave the bowling to the bowlers. Like a proper cricket team! To finish, there seems no reason why this team cannot be very competitive this season, and I am very much looking forward to that!