MATCH REPORT - COLTS Under 11

Match played on Friday 14th May 2004

Blackheath (281) lost to Cranleigh (303) by 22 runs.

We may not have won the match but we played the shot of the day (Peter Melhuish's elegant cover drive for 4), took the wicket of the day (Tom Richardson's perfect off-cutter that clean bowled their opening batsman), and put in the fielding stop of the day (Toby Webb's sliding effort on the long leg boundary to cut off what seemed a certain 4 runs).

Not to mention a great caught-and-bowled from Stanley Verkaik and some lusty hitting from Luke Matthews (why bother with technique if the ball disappears into the trees?). Robert Moorcroft showed his increasing experience with a tight spell of bowling and some crisp and efficient running between the wickets.

Well done in particular to our three debutants Chris Mackie, Matthew Parton and Finbar Charleson, all of whom did exactly what was asked of them, and played well enough that nobody would have suspected how little cricket they had played before.

Finally, the "I told you so" moment came from Charles Steele. Having berated one of his fellow fielders for "not using the long barrier" and allowing the ball to get past (a call that caused me, for one, to think "practice what you preach, Steele"), he then proceeded to demonstrate this technique to perfection when a difficult ball came towards him the very next delivery. Good call, Charles.

Well done to everybody who played. Cranleigh were a strong side and we gave them a good game. This season we should do well.