18/01/2010
Under 13's Defeated By Cove 'A'
Size 8 Boot Denies Easton!
Easton U13s were pipped at the post by Cove in another nail-biting encounter at Dummer Cricket Centre last Monday evening. Chasing 104 to win Easton were keenly placed requiring 11 off 9 balls to steal a win against wily opposition. Cove gave nothing away with the ball in the final overs as Alex Barker and Matt Cooper sought to get the team over the line. Against some tight bowling Alex at last got his chance as Redhead dished up a fullish ball that was begging to be hit; and hit it was as he drove the ball straight passed the bowler along the ground and towards the back wall for a much needed 6. Inches from the back wall a Cove fielder stuck out a boot, the ball bounced off and in the air, was heading for the off-side wall only to be snaffled by the cover fielder for no run! Cove turned the screw in the final over as Matt was run out and in the end Easton came up short losing by 7 runs.
In truth Easton only had themselves to blame. Having won the toss and elected to bowl first the boys collectively struggled to keep the ball on target and as the number of extras piled up Cove must have thought their luck was in. The facts speak for themselves: Easton gifted their opponents 62 extras and scored 58 with the bat while Cove conceded 38 extras yet scored only 41 with the bat. When the radar was working Easton were dangerous. Calum Rigden took a good catch to dismiss opener Stein off the bowling of Alex Barker in the 2nd over; Adam Lobb impressed all with his left-arm fast bowling as he took a wicket with the first and third balls of his first over representing Easton indoors – Hambleton was clean bowled and Merryfield was caught brilliantly by Dean Griffin. Once again Dean epitomised the wholehearted fielding shown by all of Easton’s players; every loose ball was pounced upon, everyone backed up superbly (on one occasion Dean, Alex and Matt combined seamlessly to prevent a 6) and Sam Maunder impressed again behind the sticks. Calum marshalled the troops well and constant chatter from all maintained the team’s concentration throughout. Thanks to Easton’s largesse with the extras Cove closed out on 103-4.
Realising that they would need to keep the scoreboard ticking over at a fair lick if they were to chase down the target Calum and Dean set about the job in hand very brightly. Dean’s positive running put pressure on the Cove fielders from the off and demonstrated to the opposition how to turn 1s into 3s. Together they put on 39 for the first wicket until Dean played uppishly and was caught at cover for 7. Calum was joined in the middle by Alex and the two combined well dispatching the ball to all parts. Cove gave nothing away with the ball widthwise and bowled with considerable accuracy although they did struggle a little with pitching the ball beyond the line and all no balls were seized upon by both Alex and Calum. Cove’s persistence paid off and Calum was bowled by Rylance for 20. Adam batted brightly until he was run out for 5 and Sam Maunder played positively until bowled by Merryfield for 5. By now Cove could sniff a win and kept their collective composure as the pressure built and the drama unfolded in the final overs. Matt was run out for 1 and Alex was last man standing on 20 until run out off the last ball trying to edge nearer the target.
Once again Easton played with brio in this the top division at U13 level in this competition. Positive batting, energetic fielding and a terrific attitude all bode well for the future but the team must be disappointed with their collective bowling performance which effectively handed the win to their opponents on a plate. Local rivals Tichborne Park lie in wait on 27th February – perhaps on that occasion the boot will be on the other foot.
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