Wield U9's vs Dogmersfield U9's, Sunday 1st June
Wield, 240-3 were beaten by Dogmersfield, 273-6
June had come and it was flaming hot with a few clouds marring the clear sky and gliders rising and wheeling on the thermals. The intrepid Wield 7 made their way to the ground, Dogmersfield arrived and Wield were put into bat. Another special day today with a first game for Maddy and Thomas was back for his second game so we were hopeful for more wickets. With only 7 though we had to double up and so Oli and Millie opened the batting. Oli was striking the ball well and despite being bowled in the second over the score moved to 207 after our first pair. Ella and Ira came out to the crease and Ira immediately got to work running and calling well. Ella steadied the other end and the score moved slowly on to 213. Oli returned for his second go and looked after Maddy well. Maddy has the disdain for those leg side wides well practised but no wickets were lost so the runs crept up to 217. Captain Wilf and Thomas took up the rearguard duties and Wilf opened his account this week with two sixes in the first over and fours followed swiftly. Thomas ran well between the wickets for those not hit as boundaries and by the end of the final four overs the score had risen to a respectable 240 with only three wickets down.
The customary Wield feast arrived for tea and the very grateful teams, umpires and scorers all enjoyed the magnificent flapjacks courtesy of Emma and some superb brownies from Lucy. Thank you too to Sarah, Rachael and Allison for the fine squash, teas and coffees - fully refreshed we returned to the fray.
After the tight bowling I was a little concerned about Dogmersfield, but felt with some good fielding and wickets from the team of known wicket takers we could be in with a chance. We decided to bowl Wilf twice and the start and finish of the innings so he and Oli opened. Both took one wicket a piece, rattling the stumps and Dogmersfield matched us after the first four with 207. Thomas and Ira got to work as their second pair came out - unfortunately they were their two best batsmen... and the score rapidly mounted. But in the third over off Thomas’ bowling a blinding catch by Wilf at deep mid-wicket pegged the score back to 241. Still all to play for, we had seen what wickets can do to a score so we had hope for Maddy and Ella. And indeed a wicket from Ella again caught by Wilf and two for Maddy on her debut slowed the score to 251-6. With Wilf and Millie to come, it was still possible, but sadly not to be. A few byes slipped past the keeper and Dogmersfield’s final pair took the score to 273 without losing a final wicket. The more experienced side won but we held up well and should be proud of our newcomers and their contributions, it was a great effort.
Rupert Cazalet