If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don’t. At 28-4, some 100 runs short of our target, and with the time left to do so quickly vanishing; losing from here would be a very easy thing for us to do. Winning, on the other hand, would be far from straight-forward and require an extraordinary effort. Success begins with a person’s will; it’s all in the state of mind.

This story, however, begins much earlier though, with a not so bright but very early morning in Neston. It’s a journey well repeated now, but the butterflies still remain. North Finals Day. Essentially the third and fourth round of the national cup bundled into one, always eventful, day. Success at Oxton had bought our ticket here, its cost the continued rising blood pressure of the player’s parents.

It’s our fourth trip here, across the U13s and U15s, over three years. Success in 2023 and 2024 for the U13s, and a convoluted but eventual win for the U15s last year as well. It’s a tough day, with an early start, wrought with emotion, the boys have to tackle two games back to back. The presence of a cricket team, something that boys who have started playing senior cricket in this post-covid cricketing world will have very little familiarity with, does help alleviate the rapid nature of the day.

Chatting to the Neston groundsman, Steve (who is accompanied by a crack team of helpers) the week earlier when I was up there with Cheshire U14s, he promised that the pitch for finals day would be fast and flat. With us being far closer than any of the opposition sides, it feels like a home advantage.

Swarkestone CC, who would be our semi-final opponents, had a short hop over from Derbyshire. Barnard’s Castle, a brilliantly named club from Northumberland, had mostly stayed over the night before, but a few chose to bravely travel in the morning. Now there can’t be many times where a side from Northumberland are not having the biggest away day, but the side from Scotland had pipped them. At a colossal near 400 mile journey from their club to Neston, Aberdeenshire CC were certainly the away team. It does highlight one of my favourite parts of this cup, being able to experience the standard of other leagues and counties, and play against cricketers from other parts of the country. It’s always interesting to hear of their journeys to this stage, and what their stories are as a club.

Semi-Final v Swarkestone – Swarkestone win the toss and bat
We were on the main pitch at Neston. Closer to the clubhouse than I’ve played before, the short boundary on that side was paired with a massive boundary on the other. The slope going across the ground going that way, along with the majority of the square being on that side, would balance out the distance. Swarkestone, our opponents, had won the Derbyshire section of this cup, and had a strong collection of county players in their squad. A younger and, probably no surprise to anyone reading, a smaller side than ours, but they certainly promised to be a good challenge for us. After a brief meeting with coaches and umpires, it was time to get on with the game. With the drizzle just starting to fall after an already soggy morning, their skipper would call correctly and ask us to bowl.

It’s never easy bowling with a wet ball. Despite practically every player on our team having a towel or rag to try the ball with, it was inevitably going to get soaked. The rain from above wasn’t heavy, and certainly fine to play in but it was persistent and was adding to the already damp dew-covered outfield. What didn’t help was the first ball of the game, a flashing blade, an outside edge, and the ball flying down the hill to the long boundary for four. The water spitting and spinning off the ball as it rolled rapidly away. Derbyshire’s U14 wunderkind was opening the batting, and was certainly the key wicket. Not a tall lad, but a quick scorer, and if we didn’t get him early, could threaten to take the game away from us.

He started well, and with a bit of luck, had hit three fours of the first over and taken 14 off it. A tight over in the second over from Ash wrestled back some control, but their openers continued to pick up boundaries taking seven runs off the third over, and ten runs off the fourth. Despite the quick start against them, Aarron stuck with himself and Ash, backing themselves to take one or two of the big wickets we needed. It almost paid off immediately, Aarron firing down a rapid spell, found the outside edge. A fine knick through to keeper Ibby’s hands, but whether it was the soaking wet ball or just a bit of nerves, the catch didn’t stick. There are moments in cricket matches that feel like they might decide the entire match, and this felt like one of them.

The boys had to bounce back, and Ash provided the boost they needed. Full and swinging in, he uprooted the poles of the other opener. A momentum shift, as Milan and Zac came on and immediately the runs dried up. Steady and consistent bowling was paired with some excellent fielding as Didsbury fought back. Slowing down the Swarkestone batters was building up the pressure on them to find the boundary, and searching for that release brought the next wicket. Looking to go over the top off Milan, the ball was launched skyward, Zac, safe as houses, underneath it for a good catch. We’d spoken before the game about the point of difference between our sides. If we took five wickets, they’d capitulate. Scoring rates would drop, and wickets would continue to tumble. But we needed those five.

Milan would find us another. This time Kush would be the catcher, a great grab at extra cover, his usual hunting ground. After an outstanding three over spell from Zac, in which his miserly bowling only went for 11 runs and had completely changed the atmosphere of the game, it was over to Nikash. With good pace and bounce, he charged in and clearly made it uncomfortable for the Swarkestone batters. The opener remained however, and was making steady headway towards his half-century, and retirement. It had felt inevitable from the dropped chance that he’d get there, and the lads had smartly tried to rob him of the strike and frustrate him.

At the other end however, the wickets continued to tumble. Milan would get one through the gate, castling the stumps, and then quickly follow it up in the same over with a smart catch off his own bowling. Momentum truly going our way. Milan’s spell was outstanding, and had bravely clawed back the game for us. He finished with 4-0-21-4. Nikash ably supported him at the other end, 3-0-14-1, his wicket was a good delivery, getting through the defences to clean bowl the batter. Although their star batter would retire, his 50* coming off just 42 balls, the scorecard read 92-6, after Krishav picked up a wicket, ripping one through the gate. With over half of their runs walking off the pitch, and with wickets tumbling at the other end, it looked like 100 all out was on the cards for Swarkestone.

They scrambled up to 90, then 100. They had scored quickly enough, and if they could just get a partnership going, they could get up to the 130-140 they had looked like getting after the first 8 overs. Past 110, all the way up to 120, their number 9 in particular was counterattacking well. Dangerous runs were stacking up, as he added 17 off 16. The returning Ash would put a stop to their charge in the last over, managing to find the outside edge as Ibby ably took the catch behind the sticks. In anticlimactic fashion, their number 11 was out first ball, and what had looked like 130-135, suddenly ended at 121 all out. An excellent bowling effort to take nine wickets, and only concede seven extras, and all in sub-standard conditions to bowl and field in.

Their number 9 had done his job though, contributing those vital runs had got his team to a competitive total. It felt 30 short considering the quality of the pitch and speed of the outfield, combined with the short boundary on one side. We’d have fancied get 150+ if we’d got the chance to bat first. As it was, we were chasing 122 to win and felt confident at the break. That wouldn’t last long.

Didsbury need 122 to win
The thud of ball on pad. Followed by the yelps of an appeal. Gone. We’d not lost an early wicket for the last five games, getting easily into the fifth over and beyond. We’d lose one in just the second over. Despite a classy drive for four to get himself off the mark, Tanmay would be adjudged LBW. Four balls later, James would chip one to point. Early wickets have a significant impact on any game. The fielding side get the early momentum they are looking for.

The pressure on the batting side ramps up quickly. Those first thoughts of doubt come in. Kush, who had blasted bowling attacks apart in the last couple of rounds, suddenly had to reign himself in. If the lads were feeling the nerves now, they certainly were two overs later when Nik would hit a full toss to mid off, and despite an excellent 15 from 13 whilst wickets fell around him, Kush would also be adjudged LBW sweeping down the leg side. At 28-4, some 100 runs short of our target, and with the time left to do so quickly vanishing; losing from here would be a very easy thing for us to do.

Partnerships. That’s how games are won. Especially chasing totals down, it’s very hard to do so with just one batter getting the majority, and certainly so in this competition with the restriction of retiring at 50. Adding 22 together, Krishav and AB as two of our junior batters kept the scoreboard ticking over smartly. Nothing rash. A lovely couple of drives for four, one apiece. The partnership got us up to 50 before a solitary paw from the keeper snatched one out of the air off a flashing edge from Krishav’s bat. Less than 10 overs remain. Only 5 wickets left. And still 70 to get.

Didsbury were certainly behind the game. Not going to go down without a fight, Ibby dared to go on the counter attack. A brave move from an U14, under a tremendous amount of pressure and very little batting time in this competition. With two fours, and some excellent scampering between the wickets, he added a quickfire 16 off just 11 balls to take a good chunk out of the total. He and AB adding 24 together before Ibby fell, run-out going for a 2. 74-6. We needed one more partnership, and it would have to be a quick scoring one. With Abu still battling on, he needed a partner. He found one in Zac. A helpful five wides in the 14th over meant we took 10 off it. Some excellent running between the wicket during the 15th over meant we took 8 off it. Every run was crucial.

Similar story in the 16th, quick singles and the odd two. 7 off it. Into the 17th over. 24 balls left. 23 to win. A run of 15 balls with no dot ball between the pair was absolutely fantastic, and just what we needed. We still had wickets in hand, but time was running out. 6 runs off the seventeenth. 17 off 18. A couple of wides to kick off the 18th, a very helpful gift. Bowled! Completely against the run of play, the bowler got one through Zac’s defences. 111-7. A brilliant partnership, the pair adding 37 runs together. Zac’s 14 off just 15 is a crucial contribution.

There had been a common denominator for all these partnerships; a rock at one end. AB was batting beautifully. With the last wicket, AB was sat on 30* from 30 balls. A calm, and completely focused innings. Offering zero chances, the ball one left the floor once, a well placed clip off his legs for four. It would be all be naught though, if he couldn’t see us home. He was joined by Ash, and with two overs to go, we needed 9 to win. A scrambled leg bye off the first. Dot ball. One run. One run. 6 to win. AB recongised he had a free hit. Go for a boundary now, to secure the game, and still have a ball left to get back on strike. A good connection through midon/midwicket. But cut off well. Dot ball. Get the single. Not quite. Dot ball. Six needed off the last.

Swarkestone had taken the game deep, they had set good fields and never let us get past 6 an over through this back ten. However, they got it terribly wrong in the end; they brought all their fielders in. Realistically, we still needed one boundary to win. A combination of singles and twos was going to be difficult, one dot ball could spell disaster. One good hit could win us the game now. Leg stump half volley. Whipped by Ash. Into the gap, across the square, and down the hill. Four runs. What a moment. With two to win, the boys scrambled off the two next balls to get us over the line. What a finish to a fascinating game; Didsbury win with three balls to spare, and go into the final. The parents' nervous laps could come to an end, after burning a circle into Neston’s outfield. A deep breath could be taken, but we’d quickly be back into action.

I speak to the lads about the importance of those batting positions; 6, 7, 8, 9. They are match winning positions to bat. If the top five do their job, you’ve won the game anyway, so be happy they’ve done their job. Especially in a knockout cup format like this. However, when duty calls, you’re in the hotseat. Abu’s knock of 32* off 35, coming in at 28-4, and seeing us over the line, was exemplary.

After a quick debrief, in which we praised the efforts of the bowlers and fielding effort in difficult conditions, and the outstanding chase our lower order put in, we had our cricket tea. Lasagna, some salad, and a bit of garlic bread. No complaints. The parents went for the customary fish and chips, famously part of a trip to Neston, with Dunc partaking in what was definitely diabetic ice cream.

The final was to be against Aberdeenshire. Our Scottish opponents in the past have been tough. Carlton and Grange have been strong sides, and we often know very little about them. Some of their lads were giant, towering above even some of our lads, but some were quite small. In a real eclectic mix of kits, it was a confusing sight. I mentioned the batting positions; the ‘engine room’ of the lower order, but it was time for the top order to fire. We’d had our nervy batting performance, surely we couldn’t have another. Aberdeenshire would grant us that opportunity, curiously choosing to bowl first. To the middle strode Kush and Tanmay, in the North Regional Finals. One final effort away from the last four in the country…

North Regional Final v Aberdeenshire – Dids put into bat
A cautious start from both sides. A couple of wides. A couple of singles. No ground gained by either side. It felt tense, it felt that both sides were pushing and poking each other to see what would give. It’d be first blood to Didsbury. A crunching four by Kush. Blink and it was gone. And just like that, the floodgates opened. Two overs gone for 12 runs in the next four, as the scoreboard soared upwards. Boundaries for both openers. But it was in the eighth over, that the tone completely changed.

Tanmay launched a salvo of boundaries, barraging the rope with four after four after four after four. Kush, not to be outdone by his partner, hit an almighty six, the ball sailing over the rope. The bushes. The road. And finally into the neighbouring house. This felt like a completely different day, never mind a different game, than our experience against Swarkestone.

A final flourish of four and a second powerful six saw Kush retire off just 31 balls. Six fours and two sixes to his name. What an innings, and what a statement. Tanmay would join him an over or two later, 50* off 40 balls. The absolute definition of a match winning partnership from our opening pair. James got off to a flier, with one of the shots of the day, pummelling a straight drive to the fence for four, as would Nikash, who’d crash two fours. Both would be at the crease for a good time, but not a long time. Aberdeenshire’s bowling was fine, but their fielding let them down.

Krishav and AB took advantage of this to press home our advantage, finishing 14* and 12* respectively. Krishav’s clip for six off his legs taking us into the 150s. At 158/2 from our 20. The top order had certainly done their job. It’d be our game to lose. Only a disaster could rob us from winning the final.

It may seem strange that the report for the final is shorter than that of the semi-final, but it perhaps sums up the difference between the two games, and most importantly the completely different atmosphere that surrounded the second match, and definitely during the last innings of the day.

Aberdeenshire need 159 to win
With eight an over required, a tall ask for any side, but for an U15 side who were clearly tired and battered after a long and emotional day, it was always going to be too much. Aarron started brilliantly. Two wickets up top, dismissing their captain bowled, and getting the other opener caught, a simple enough catch for James. A wicket for Zac, James once again holding on to a good grab, was followed by a smart run out by King Youell. It looked done and dusted really, with the required rate already past 10 an over, and their top order gone.

A brilliant innings from their number five, crashing a quickfire 41* off 36 provided us with a little bit of nerves, but wickets continued to cascade at the other end. Wickets for Nikash, and two back to back from Ash to close things out. There isn’t much to write about really. They never got going, and we didn’t have much to do other than get through our overs. The innings petered out to a non-contest, the winning margin was significant; 59 runs. A well earned win, with us doing the hard work in the semi-final, a nice one-sided affair was just what we all needed to keep our heart rates from skyrocketing. I fear the day that one of our parents goes into cardiac arrest watching one of these matches! Or me for that matter!

A fantastic day. Some brilliant cricket. Plenty of emotion. With just enough jeopardy to make it an absolute thriller. The boys played some very smart cricket, showing off their experience of playing in this competition for four years now, and bringing in all their knowledge from their other sources of cricket. Swarkestone had us on the ropes, and had outplayed us in 20 out of the 40 overs, but we won the key moments, just little bits here and there, that stack up to make a significant difference. Abu, as he was last year for the U13s at their finals day, was the Hero at Neston once again.

Both Swarkestone and Aberdeenshire had match winning performances from some of their individuals, but couldn’t compete with our depth. At five down, both teams had little left to give, but when we were 28-4, and 50-5, in that semi-final, we kept coming at them. With that win against our Scottish opponents, we had won our regional final, and qualified for the national semi-final. The last four in the country. An outstanding achievement from a very talented group of lads. A very well done to them, to their parents, our coaching team, and a massive thank you for all the support they get from you, the club.

We travel to Elsecar CC once again. To take on Lutonians CC (who are representing the midlands curiously… Bedfordshire must be as far south as the midlands get!), who look to be a proper challenge for us. It’ll be exciting. It’ll be horrible to watch. It’s one more win from playing at Lord’s for the second time. Success begins with a person’s will; it’s all in the state of mind.