We’d played all across Lancashire, travelling to West, East, and North Manchester, and heading all the way up to Lancaster for our Lancashire Cup Final. With Lancashire conquered and our cup defended for the third consecutive year, it would be Cheshire who came next. After a failed attempt to play last Sunday due to some biblical levels of rain, the U13s National Round 2 fixture in the U13 Vitality Club T20 had been pushed back to Friday. It’s a shame really that our opponents would be Lindow CC. Not because we have any bad blood with them, or that they wouldn’t be suitable opponents! Just that we (almost quite literally this year) play them every other week! It was hardly a new, exciting experience to make the 20 minute journey to Wilmslow. We couldn’t take our local opponents for granted however, they had beaten everyone else in Cheshire, and had some excellent players who represent the county. It would be an exciting evening for the U13s as a whole, as back at Didsbury, the mighty Bears battled the Wolves from Heaton Mersey in their quarterfinal, a stage we haven’t reached before in that part of their competition. With a few of the cup side away, it was a great opportunity for players to rise to the occasion who hadn’t played before, or hadn’t necessarily been called upon in previous games. It would be a Battle at Upcast Lane then, where our U13s would decide if they were heading to North Regional Finals Day for the second year in a row… and oh boy, what a battle it would be…

The day started well. The sun was out, and there was no danger of rain. It was baking hot, and looked to stay that way throughout the evening. Our merry band of players and parents arrived at Lindow on time, even young Patrick who had caught a train from Wales to make it back in time. Both umpires were premier panel umpires, who often stand for our 1st XIs games, which is a great endorsement of junior cricket by Cheshire and helps make it a bigger occasion. The pitch was green, and a tad softer than we expected. The boundary sizes were similar to the way we have it set up at Didsbury, with the square making it lightning fast across the ground on one side and a shorter boundary on the other. With the sun baking down, the best policy is to bat first and see how tired you can make the opposition before they bat. With the toss won once again, we did exactly that. Before anyone could really settle down to enjoy the game, disaster would strike. After a tidy first over by their opening bowler, Ibby unable to pierce the gaps, Krishav would fall to just his second ball. He’s been key for our quick starts and our leading run scorer, but would miss out on a loopy full toss and find the ball crashing into his shin. Albert and Ibby would rebuild, but wouldn't find it easy with the ball staying low off the surface. We’d reach 14/1 off six overs (the last four games we had been 45/0, 38/1, 29/0, 37/1 so we were in unfamiliar territory!) with Lindow bowling well and giving very little width and bowling nothing short. We’d need to find a higher gear, and Ibby and Albert would do so. Taking 22 runs off two overs at one point, we catapulted up to 66/2 in the 14th, with the pair reaching 27 and 28 respectively. It would be a classy partnership by skipper Milan and Harry that would see our run rate climb quickly. The two would scamper between the wickets brilliantly as boundaries were still hard to come by. Closer and closer to the three digit total we desired, Milan found two fours and suddenly what had been 14 off six overs and 36 off 10 overs, we had smashed through 100 to reach 107/5 from our 20, going at just over seven an over for the last 10. An excellent comeback! Some really selfless batting and fearless running between the wickets in particular, and we were back in the game.

A good total to defend, but no way near high enough where we could feel comfortable. It would take a lot of discipline and skill to stay in control of the game. One bad over and it could change the balance very quickly. We’ve been fantastic with the bat all year, but it’s with the ball in hand where we’ve been dominant. The combination of our fantastic bowling attack and outstanding efforts in the field have been so enjoyable to watch. The most enjoyable part of this season’s bowling efforts happened on Friday however. With two county batters trotting out to the crease for Lindow, Milan and Harry would assume their usual roles of opening our attack. A great start by Harry who set the tone well. Cricket has a funny way of catching up with you when you make a mistake and rewarding you for putting in extra effort; a excellent touch down to third man from their opening bat, resulted in a fantastic sliding stop by Julian. Sprawling at full length, keeping the ball off the rope, and getting it back in quickly to save two runs… an effort that had incredible value in a low total defence. It also meant that the batter, instead of getting a nice start with a boundary, and a sense of frustration for the bowler, was still eager to score off this over… key for the next ball. Snick! A beautiful sound quite unique to cricket I feel. Harry hooping one and taking the outside edge of their opening bat, ably caught behind by Ibby. The batter receiving the slow nod of death from the umpire (those who know David Tate know what i’m describing!). What a start. A good over from the captain from the other end, the ball clearly swinging around in the humidity. Providing little to hit, only two coming from the over. Harry with his second over, again a fantastic display of swing bowling as he pushed one tow- Snick! Another one! Bowled Harry, caught Ibby. Proper cricket on display. Milan would again show his class, supporting his younger partner from the other end. Bowlers work in partnerships we say, and it was clearly happening to- Snick! A third! Unbelievable! Milan this time, getting one to push across the batter and finding the edge. Genuine caught behinds are so rare in U13 club cricket, and we had three for our first three wickets! Incredible scenes as the boys celebrated removing Lindow’s top order… Their number four would have to rebuild now, if they wan- Bowled first ball! Milan swinging one back in and crashing through his defence. 9-4. What a performance from the Kings of Swing. You couldn’t ask for a better start, and to add salt to the wounds, Archie would pick up a wicket with just his fourth ball, to really put Lindow under pressure at 15-5. Our bowling attack was completely on top, and the game seemed over.. All eyes slowly turned to playcricket and Didsbury where the Bears were in a proper scrap with Heaton Mersey. Chasing a massive 127, they were in pursuit at 70-2 from 12. Conversations turned to the next round, a regional final for the Top 4 in the North. Meanwhile on the pitch… Lindow crept upwards and upwards. Drinks at 10 came and went, Lindow had recovered a bit from 28-6 to 45-6, and coming out of the break went on the charge.. 6 off the over, 8 off the over, 11 off the over… uh oh. Didsbury found themselves on the back end of the same pressure they had put so many others under as stolen singles and cheeky twos dragged the fielders in, and then boundaries leaked through to the now vacant spaces. Falling for the trap over after over, it was a frustrating watch. From the 10th over, they needed 6 an over. They weren’t going to do that in singles, there would be enough dot balls, or wickets, that would peg them down. Boundaries and extras would always be the reason we’d lose from that position, and we were certainly making a good effort of it! They raced up to 77 in the 15th over, before Krishav found the breakthrough, getting one through the gate of the Lindow Number 8. He, and his partner Number 7, had batted brilliantly and deserved all the credit, fighting their way back from the position they were in is outstanding especially from a pair that young. What happened next is curious. Number 7 was on 28*. Retirement is at 30. The game was surely over once he passed 30. Would the tail chase another 28 or so? We’d like to think not. However, two quick wickets fell at the other end. A suicidal run out, calmly taken by Isaac, and an excellent caught behind by Ibby off Raco’s leg spin. Nine down. This is where you question if destiny, fate, karma, whatever you might believe in was playing its hand. At nine down, the batters don’t need to retire as it would end the innings. So Number 7 could keep going. And keep going he did. Whacking a six and a four off the next over, taking them to less than 20 to win, and with wisdom beyond his years, he stole a single of the last ball to keep the strike. Milan smartly brought himself back on. Finish the game now, don’t let it go to the wire. Four first ball. Well that wasn’t on the script. A tidy finish by Milan, but the target was now just seven from two overs. Like Stokes and Leach at Headingley, the Lindow pair were destined to see them home. A meeting in the middle of the senior heads in the team. Who was to bowl? There were options aplenty, but most hadn’t bowled yet or had found themselves put to the sword by Number 7. Raco it would be. His previous two overs had been brilliant, but weren’t without the odd loose ball, expected of any young leg spinner. It’s an incredibly tough art with the margin for error being quite big. Young Raco bowled, not his finest ball I’m sure he’d agree, and it was hit hard and flat towards Dylan on the deep square boundary. Determined, as ever, to not let the ball past, he made himself low and wide. Thundering into him, he stopped the ball from what was a certain four. Number 7, curiously, didn’t take a single. In his mind, it was up to him. Raco bowls. A dot ball, another turned down single. Raco bowls, a reluctant single taken. This was a key moment. Number 11 on strike. Who hasn't faced a ball up to this point. Raco bowls, well defended. Raco bowls.. Well defended. Raco bowls… well defended. Just as Leach before him, Number 11 had done his job. What an over from Raco, in the penultimate over (often the most decisive of the final two overs) under all that pressure, had kept us in the game… One more over. One final over. Six to win. Archie to bowl. Now this moment, if it was a blockbuster movie would see the top and bottom of the screen close in with black bars. The camera would zoom in on both Archie, and Number 7’s faces. Whilst the soundtrack from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Cricket is a team sport, through and through, but at the end of the day its bowler vs batter. This was Archie vs Number 7 (Currently 38*). Didsbury vs Lindow. Blue vs Green. Mano a mano… Dot ball. A turned down single. Backing himself in the duel. Dot ball. A wild swing. Through to the keeper... BOWLED! Game over. Archie the hero. Didsbury victorious.

You had to feel for Lindow, what a magic moment it would've been if they had gotten over the line. From 28-6 to come within one hit of winning is an incredible achievement in itself. So many fantastic moments in the game for both teams, but for us those opening three wickets was an absolute spectacle. Raco’s penultimate over. Archie’s final ball. The ability to bowl that well (We didn’t give away a single extra after the 11th over) and field that calmly under a serious amount of pressure is commendable for any cricketer, but for a group of U12 and U13 boys it is outstanding. I would say that is what I am most proud of; not their ability or talent but the way they performed, and stuck together, under pressure and when it mattered most. A lesson to be learnt, don’t let the opposition back in the game and don’t assume you have won until the final ball has been bowled. You wonder why I continue my nervous laps even when we are so clearly in front! Hopefully that reminder has come just at the right time, as we progress to a regional finals day for the top four teams in the North. It’s a proud achievement for myself and the other U13 coaches to reach this point for the second consecutive year. The club are so lucky to have so many talented cricketers, fantastic parents, and incredible volunteers that have made it happen. It was saddening to see the Bears fall just short in their chase of 127 vs Heaton Mersey at Didsbury, that would have been a fantastic achievement versus what is essentially their best XI. The Bears have done fantastically this year, with a amazing number of participants they have had great success in their league. They now await the start of the Summer Cup, which they reached the final of last year, and I’m sure could easily go one step further now! For the cup side, it’s Tuesday 30th for their finals day, at Neston CC on the Wirral. For those willing and able to come and support the boys It’s a 10:30 semi-final vs the best of Nottinghamshire. Yorkshire or Scotland await us in the final, should we get there. For now, Cheadle will have to do! We play them on Friday at DCC, 18:00 start, as we kick off our SMJCL cup defence.