Bowdon Vale u13s v Buffaloes u 13s

And so into the seventh month of 2017 and a rare away Buffaloes fixture at Bowdon Vale, not the easiest place to get to for a 6pm start on a Friday. The Buffaloes numbered just 7 when hostilities commenced and so it was agreed they would bat first. Early in proceedings, Finn was victim to an inside edge onto his stumps. Harry came in and after a steady start for the pair, James started to cut loose with a succession of middled boundaries and another quick-fire 31 of 22 balls saw James retire. Harry blocked one onto the stumps and was relieved to see the bails fail to dislodge but then was run out taking a risky single by a good throw 2 balls later for 3. The new pair were Sean and Noah. Sean was bowled by a full straight delivery for 2 whilst Noah settled himself in. Isaac got off the mark with a nifty piece of footwork before being given the trigger on his second lbw appeal for 1. Chris hit a sound boundary and had survived being bowled on a no ball but lifted one to mid on next ball for 5. Noah departed next over going for a straight one having added a valuable 7, and Michael also departed in the same manner for 1, as did Zain without scoring. As the Buffalos only had 10, poor Ben was left stranded on 0 not out. The Buffaloes had racked up 74 all out with 23 extras.

However, the gloomy conditions gave Didsbury cause for hope and a good tight opening 3 overs from James and Zain saw just 5 runs conceded. Sean made the breakthrough with a middle stumper, the ball after he thought he'd had the opener caught off a no ball. Ben then made another brilliant catch behind the stumps to follow up his superman catch on Tuesday for a deserved wicket for Chris. A tight over by Sean saw Bowdon limp to 19-2 off 9. A brilliant diving stop on the ropes by Michael saved a certain 4 and at the halfway point, Vale were well short at 24-2.

Chris made a great diving effort at third man, as did Finn at mid off but both balls dropped just short. However, Sean struck again with a middle and leg beauty to leave Bowdon 26-3 in the 11th. Isaac bounced back from a few looseners before Chris did for their fourth wicket with a fast straight one. Bowden were now 40-4 off 13. This became 50-4 off 15 after a decent over from Harry. Noah peeled off his pullover and a great over by him was rewarded with a lovely bowled wicket, pinning Vale to 53-5 off 16. Suddenly however, Vale's new pairing started an exhibition in quick and clever running between the wickets and the deficit of 21 started to rapidly decrease.

Vale's continued good calling and running, allied with some excitable fielding left Bowdon needing 1 off the last 7, which they dully got taking them past Didsbury to 78-6.

This match was a real lesson: Man for man, Didsbury were the better team, but Vale won due to (1) bowling full and straight; (2) better running and calling by their batsmen; and (3) defending straight balls. If we can learn those lessons, then we should finish off the season with 2 more solid wins.