Didsbury U11 v Urmston U11 27th May 2018 Cup

After a brief geological survey of the area, stumps were placed at either end of what may once have been a cricket pitch. The stumps proved to be excellent navigational aids on what otherwise was a featureless piece of land. Skipper Ben called correctly and sent Urmston into bat. On exactly what sort of surface they would be batting only time would tell.

Indeed, it was some balls into the first over that Christian, opening the bowling, landed one in proximity to the batsman, duly enjoying some extravagant swing enhanced by a headwind that would have had pilots searching for alternative routes. After early sighters, Christian bowled well removing the opening batsman with a big inswinger. At the other end, Zac generated some good pace with the wind behind him. It was marginally easier to bowl from that end, notwithstanding the absence of any terrain in the vicinity that had enjoyed any sort of husbandry in the recent past. He was able to get the ball to seam sharply and picked up 2 excellent wickets, both bowled. Both opening bowlers set the standard in terms of enjoying greatest success when bowling a fuller length. Ethan, once he mastered the wind, bowled consecutive maidens – unheard of at this level, underlining his promise. Continued development should see him lead the attack in this team next year. The pressure told and the home team’s best batsman pushed for a tight single that was thwarted by a great pick up and direct hit from Christian. Alfie T bowled a tidy 2 overs which was the prelude to Dillon and Arlo taking up the reins. Arlo bowled some nice deliveries, as always approaching his bowling like an enthusiastic scientist not quite sure what magic he will conjure. A contender for champagne moment of the season saw Dillon zip a sharp delivery clattering into the stumps and smashing the off bail in half.

Ben and Alfie V then struck up a great bowling partnership, Ben beating the outside edge and Alfie V picking up two wickets at the other end. The first was a sharp catch down the leg side from rapidly improving keeper Harry and the second a lovely delivery nipping in to take middle stump. Liam delivered a fast lifting delivery that sent an inside edge into the safe paws of Zac “round the corner” whilst Jacob bowled with great control into the wind to see the Urmston innings close on what looked like a below par 52.

Quite how below par a score would not be known until Didsbury started their innings. The solid meeting of Liam’s bat and the opening ball suggested it would be a nerve free morning for the banks of spectators from Didsbury who had secured tickets for this cup match. Liam continued to offer the broad face of his bat rather like a Labrador proudly presenting a stick to its’ owner – solid, dependable, reassuring and just what is required from an opener. Jacob quietly went about his business at the other end in a panic free innings. He was joined by Alfie T when Liam played over the top of a ball heading towards a second bounce. Alfie and Jacob enjoyed an understated or possibly even silent understanding of when to run and quickly accumulated a 40 run partnership before Alfie retired for an intelligent 25. It was left to captain Ben to stroke the winning runs 10 overs into the innings to ensure a 9 wicket win for Didsbury.

This was a strong performance from the boys who now face a tough away fixture against Brooklands in the next round.