Thanks to Nick for the following match report:
The U11’s were again involved in another incredible game of cricket on Sunday when they tied with Leatherhead having just failed to get the one run they needed for victory off the last ball of the match. Leatherhead batted first and reached 123 for 1 with some very good batting. The boys generally batted and bowled well without really reaching the heights of the last two games. That said the weather was hot and there were clearly a couple of the side suffering from the after effects of ‘sleepovers’.Louis Ackland picked up the only wicket after Ben Mettrick and Guy Parkin had opened the bowling without getting any luck. Once again Tommy Boxall captained the side very well and he then brought Hari Kandiah and himself on and the runs slowed down thanks in part to a couple of batsmen retiring. Tom Sutherland bowled 4 overs of real pace and aggression but somehow did not get the wicket his bowling deserved.
124 to win was a challenge but with the words of veteran coach Brian Boxall ringing in their ears Louis and Cameron Stevens set out to achieve the 10 runs each batsman that Brian had demanded of them. Louis achieved this within 6 balls following a huge 6 over mid wicket. Cameron then hit his first ball for what looked like a certain 4 until the boy in the red cap somehow stopped it and threw it in over the stumps in one movement (more about the boy in the red cap later). Cameron was soon out and Guy came to the wicket and started to tear into the bowlers. It was obvious that Guy had not been one of the ‘sleepover boys’ as he batted brilliantly in reaching 14 including 3 fours. His pre match preparation was watching his brother Joe perform in an orchestra the evening before. Louis then went for one big shot too many and was caught for an excellent 18. Tommy and Ben then put on a fantastic partnership with both boys batting superbly. Just as another victory looked like happening Ben was out for 24 and in the last over Tommy reached 30 and had to retire. During this time the boy in the red cap had managed to save his team at least 20 runs when fielding at deep square leg and his fielding alone saved Leatherhead from certain defeat and was a lesson to Long Ditton as to how important fielding is. Hari and Tom then were left with two runs to get off the last two balls. Hari got the most important leg bye in his life to ensure that Ditton had at least a tie. Tom was left with trying to get the run off the last ball to win the match. He hit the ball well and it looked like it had got past the bowler, but the bowler just managed to half stop the ball. Tom started to run and managed to get within a foot of the crease when the bowler managed to grab hold of the ball and run him out.
Watching the U11’s is not for the faint heartedbut is great fun. The boys are now joint third in the table and had they won on Sunday would have gone second. So all to play for as they go into the last two games of the season.