Beaconsfield U11B v Bledlow Ridge Div 3

On another sweltering evening we hosted Bledlow Ridge (BR) at home, who top the division and we knew from the away fixture are a very good side. BCC had an almost completely different team out from the Monday night fixture with only 4 players playing in both.

Freddie C was captain and won the toss and sensibly decided to bat in the hottest part of the evening. Laurie and Rian got us off to a great start, only 1 wicket down and moved the score to 210. Then Jasper and Lui piled on the runs in the 2nd pair, Jasper batting well again (in particularly one lovely drive through point for 4) and the score was 237 after 8 overs – we were looking good! Then the wheels started to come off. 8 wickets went down in the next 2 pairs, only 4 of them to being bowled or caught – quite a few run outs really hurt us. Ben hit a couple of lovely fours, but the enthusiasm of youth to set off as soon as they hit the bowl did undo us a bit! So we were back on 219 after 16 overs. Freddie and Calum did call and run much more sensibly, no wickets in the last pair and the score ended on 237 for 9

It was our turn now to enjoy the evening sun. We knew we needed wickets and opened the bowling with Mohit and Laurie. They both bowled very well and kept the score to 220 which was great considering they were bowling against some good batters. Charles and Ben were next on, and Freddie took the first of his two great catches off Charles to record our first wicket. We did have opportunities for run outs as the BR boys took some risky singles but we weren’t able to capitalise, another area to focus on the training ground. After 8 overs BR were ahead, on 243 and they never looked back really despite a great one handed catch from Rian later on, and a cracking delivery from Freddie to take out off stump. Jasper swapped wicket keeping duties with Ben so that he could bowl as well but even his bamboozling off spin couldn’t reduce the gap. BR ended on 308 for for 5 for a well deserved win.

We have played 5 games this year as U11 B team, we have won 3 and lost 2 (both against BR). Over 20 boys have turned out for the team, from U8s through to U11s. The cricket has been played in great spirit, the weather has been between tropical and artic like, but hopefully for everyone involved an enjoyable experience.

Thank you to Michele & Harry for doing the scoring, Michele for organising teas, Jez for doing availability and fixtures admin, but most importantly thanks to all the boys for their engagement.

Martin