Under 13s Bulls
Matches
Fri 24 May 2019  ·  Under 13 Zone 3
Didsbury Cricket Club
Under 13s Bulls
130/5
134/3
Brooklands CC, Cheshire - Under 13
Didsbury Bulls vs Brooklands

Didsbury Bulls vs Brooklands

Karena Lowe26 May 2019 - 16:07
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Ifs, buts and maybes…………

The Bulls first loss of the season was a close-run affair, losing by just 5 runs and a classic example of how competition against two closely-matched teams comes down to very fine margins.

Brookland won the toss and chose to bat first, and a quick look at their top order pointed to the reason for their choice. Their opener raced to 28 from just 19 balls. Our strike bowlers didn’t bow though, and persisted with excellent line and length which on any other day would have proved a lot more fruitful, with a little dash of luck. Maybe a tactical lesson there in keeping a danger man off strike and working the non-striker.

Amin saw off the opener with a clean bowl who was then replaced by their number 3, who went on the retire on 30 from 37 balls. When Lama did for the number 2 Brooklands batsman from a smart catch from Perls, the total was beginning to climb to worrying heights as the Bulls’ top bowlers were beginning to bowl themselves out. Skipper Wood bowled a snorter to take the third wicket, but the Bulls needed to turn to a relatively untested bowler to try to stem the flow of runs to stop the total from being challenging to unreachable. Up stepped Cooper in his debut league appearance this season, producing a spell of three overs which were as disciplined as they were miserly – a Man of the Match performance and just what the doctor ordered! We had a chance.

In the field, the Bulls orchestra were their usual cacophonous selves, ably lead by conductor Perls – constantly playing an encouraging concerto to energise the bowlers in the face of some superb deliveries which were just not getting their rightful rewards. Some ragged fielding – including a 7 from one delivery including a wide, 2 runs and 4 overthrows shows there may be some work needed on choice of throw and not letting exuberance overrule good judgement.

So we had a chance.

Opener Perls was dismissed by an unplayable delivery - nothing much he could have done there – but it quickly showed that Brooklands’ bowling matched the quality of their batting. Amin stepping in, looking like he was in for a good time, if not a long time. He raced to 11, including 2 fours, but was done for, caught whilst chasing glory. In the meantime, Greaves Power built an elegant innings, built from some classy shots including a couple of sumptuous leg glances for four, but his demise came 3 from retirement from an LBW given by an umpire who unfortunately wasn’t allowed to bring his guide dog on to the field of play.
Tariq was the star of the show with the bat in his hand, retiring on 30 from 29 balls, the highlight of which was a lofty six, tastier than one of Duncan’s burgers! By the time Cap’n Wood and Lama were in the middle, the required rate of just a nudge below the target, but there was still hope. Woods played a tidy knock which included some lovely, throaty drives, but was cut off in his prime for 19 on a run-out. Lama was soon bagged by a smart piece of stumping for 9, so, as the light faded with the Bulls’ hopes, it was left to Maitland and Kain to try to reach what now looked an impossible target of 20 from the last 2 overs. The two put on a brave partnership of 16 from 12, with some smart running from Maitland and blow for 4 from Kain which fell a foot or two of being a six.

And so, a match that was played in excellent spirit by both teams, was washed up on the shores of ifs, buts, maybes, couldas, shouldas and wouldas. Some lessons learnt, but all in all a great display from the Bulls where Coach Laker couldn’t have asked any more from his players. And so we turn to Whalley Range next week in a clash for top two status and where those players heavily featured in the Brooklands match will be hungry for victory, and those who weren’t will be ready to take centre stage.

Match details

Match date

Fri 24 May 2019

Kickoff

18:00

Meet time

17:15

Location

Instructions

Prompt meet please everyone.
Bring a cap for the low evening sun - helps with catching!

Competition

Under 13 Zone 3

League position

2
Brooklands CC, Cheshire - Under 13
3
Didsbury CC - Under 13 Bulls
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit Sponsor - Woodstock Cricket
Club Sponsor - BMI