Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2011 Dorset

DCBYA U14s 2011 Dorset

Devon Cricket Board Youth Association Under 14s
Dorset Match Report

Sponsors of Devon Youth Cricket

It looked as if it was down to our last ECB CC match, Dorest away at Wimborne CC. If we win we make the National Finals! The weather forecast was good for Wednesday but horrid for the Thursday. Just as well we were playing on the Wednesday- it was hot, very hot. Not the best preparations, Hodders badly brusied thumb stopped him from playing and then the night before Jack Maunder had a little accident in the gym at the Chiefs' Academy! Strapped up he was going to bat though but not field.

Pleasant early morning drive and we arrived, only once around the one way system, at Wimborne CC. Who needs SatNav? It looked a new ground; it was barely two years old. The pavilion was fantastic. The pitch looked as if it might do a bit. As it turned out it was fine. The warm up was not great. Was there some complacency which we had said must not happen? With Hodders and Maunder not on the field or fielding respectively, we did get Rebecca's cookies though, Matt Skeemer captained the side. Matt won the toss and put Dorset in. A restored tiger mouth took off from the field adjoining and flew over head. Wonderful noise and sight.

In the first over, deceptive bowling Jack two wides then the straight one, Jack Thomas made the early break through with Dan Powell standing in for Jack Maunder taking the first of his five catches, plus a stumping. Ollie Dawe probably bowling better than Jack but not having much luck once more, then got reward in his 4th over again caught Powell and Dorset were 14-2 off 8. Perhaps Jack and Ollie then had an over or two too many but Dorset then had a small stand before Matt Skeemer who has had the knack this year got Cook out, who had been dismissive of half vollies, caught behind off an inside edge. 60-3 became 64-4 when Ben Roberts bowled Mulley and then wickets fell steadily as Dom Bess and Seb Ansley bowled in tamden, Seb with no luck but Dom taking 4 wickets, 2 bowled, a stumping and a caught behind. The fielding perhaps did not have its usual zing, it was a big brown outfield and it was very very hot but Dorset's tail wagged a little before Jack Brazier removed the last pair, caught behind again and caught Ansley. Dorset 141 all out in 41.1 overs. The players knew it and said it, they had not bowled or fielded as well as they could and Gates was heard to say we gave them 20-30 runs and we did as there were 19 wides and 25 extras! Not good enough guys..

All this time the secondary, left hand tennis match, was going on, which I believe Hodders lost in 5th set tie break.

Great tea and then job only half done - the second half. Dan insisted he wanted to open, but he was clearly tired after keeping. He and Matt set off at a pace 30 off the first 5 before Dan didn't really get forward and was adjudged LBW. Matt then gave catching practice to mid wicket, play straighter, and mid wicket obliged, second time. 34-2. Jack Maunder, trying to play through the pane actually played some glorious shots, playing more compact may suit you, but then ran himself out when Bessy said quickly no, but Jack kept going and then tried to get back. Oh dear 48-3 off 8, yes 8 overs. Surely we would not throw it away? Bessy and Gates then put on the match winning partnership, still scoring at a quick rate, with the new Gates, the Henry we all know, carrying on from Sunday, playing some super shots and dominating the bowling. Bessy took the anchor role but probably played th shot of the day, that cover drive. With the score on 107, Gates on 40, decided just after the drinks break and being told not to throw it away by miss hitting a bad ball, did exactly that! He top edged a poor ball to sqaure leg. 107-4. Never mind, we were by now so dominant and Dorset so low, that Barny and Bessy just knocked the runs off in 6 overs with Bessy 38 not out and Barny, his best knock of the season, 16 not out. Devon had won by 6 wickets in the 24th over. Skeems 100% record!

Jubilation all around we could do no more. If the Group 3 figures were right we had made it to the National Finals at Oakham School. As usual the journey home seemed a lot shorter. It was headlights full on and raining once I got to Chudleigh!

Thanks to Tom, the Dorset umpires, Wimborne CC and their groundsman for a superb day. Must go back to have a lok around Wimborne and the Minster. Thanks Sue for scoring and all our parents, families and grand parents for their support. Team, lads, parents, families, grand parents, Oakham School here we come...

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