MATCH REPORT - COLTS Under 13

Match played on Tuesday 25th May 2004

Blackheath Under 13 (110) lost to Ripley Under 13 (138) by 28 runs

Excellent game last night on Ripley Green, against last season's League winners.  Having won the toss, the home side elected to bat, partly I suspect to make the best of the light, but mainly because batting is clearly their strong suit.  Their opening three all retired on 30+, having played some excellent shots, punishing the bad balls for at least 2 runs every time. Of the bowlers, Charlie's 4 overs went for only 15 runs, and Stefan's spin was economical as ever with 4 overs for 19.  Unfortunately wides and no-balls bedevilled the rest of the attack, although from the end I was standing, I thought Tom Melhuish bowled particularly well in his two overs, and arguably was under-used by Captain for the day Lawrence.  Lawrence did however do an excellent job marshalling the field, who were always on their toes and saving singles left, right and centre.  Make no mistake, these batsmen could easily have made 200 against a poorer group of fielders.  In the Ripley Extras total of 38, only 3 were byes - testament to Craig's performance behind the sticks and to some good backing up.
So we went in to bat, chasing 138, and I have to say that personally, I feared we may have been back in time for Eastenders!  However against some hostile pace and very accurate spin, Mssrs Cox C. and Melhuish T. played fantastically.  Tom Cannon was unlucky to play on to his stumps just as he seemed to be getting his eye in, but then Charlie and Melhuish batted with confidence and aggression, running well between the wickets and scoring plenty of 4's on what was a huge boundary.  Charlie holed out one away from retiring, on 29, to be replaced by Craig, who followed instructions to the letter, defending the good ball and smacking anything off target.  He managed 7  before being splendidly caught at Mid-Off.  Fred and George managed to stay in, adding some good runs to the total, and with Tom Melhuish's 17 and a hefty contribution from Extras, we finished on 110 for 3.  In a Test Match, that would have been enough for a draw - but in 20 over cricket, you just gotta score more than the oppo!
Well done everyone.  Thanks to Clive for scoring, and Alex for stepping in as 12th man.  Man of the Match goes to Charlie, and the champagne moment for me being his hook to the Ripley Pavilion that went 'like a tracer bullet' and landed only 12 inches shy of the line!
No nets this week.  Training at the 'Heath on Sunday, with Clive and Janek in charge.
 
Cheers
AC