U13's into Cup Final!

Having found the ground (one field looks like any other) we were perplexed to find none of the opposition there but panic over as it turned out they were on their way back from Stretford having played already. The boys made good use of their time warming up aided by Thomas Bidwell who had come to support and help out.

The Bulls had come up against the Alderley Edge Moles earlier in the season so we had good intel on them and it was decided to bat and put together a big total to put their young team under pressure. DCC opened with Basil Sultan and Max Fisher who had already played in the morning but looked fresh and ready for action. AECC opened the bowling with Flintoff and Vaughn who bowled a tight line forcing a circumspect approach from our openers but every loose ball was seized upon, particularly by Max who hit 3 sixes in his quick fire 25 before being bowled by their spinner. In came Taha, fast achieving cult status with the U13's and their followers, who didn't disappoint smashing another 3 sixes in his innings, including one to retire on 35. Basil had continued to accumulate nicely whilst the pyrotechnics went on at the other end and he was joined by Dan Ward who perished for 16 (off 14) going for quick runs. Basil duly retired for 32 (off 50)and James was run out off the last ball for 6. 124-3 was good but probably only just par on this track with its short boundary. In no small part was this down to an impressive performance in the field by the Alderley Edge youngsters.

The team talk between innings was about focus, discipline, backing each other up, maintaining concentration and supporting each other in the field. At which point the wheels fell off! Its hard to describe the first few overs as the team suffered a collective attack of nerves. With the exception of Basil bowling the dangerous Archie Vaughn in his first over it was a chaotic mixture of boundaries, unplayable deliveries, edges, unlucky LBW appeals, misfields and extras. The 'long barrier' was nowhere to be seen!

I must admit it was difficult to see how we could turn this around as the score steadily mounted but then, out of the blue, we had a run out engineered by Harry Maxwell, ever alert in the field and Alderley Edge were 60-2. A glimmer of hope? As if a switch had been flicked we went from hapless to sensational. A change of bowling brought on Max and Zain both who had fantastic spells and were magnificently supported by the field. Zain was metronomic finishing with figures 4-0-7-0 (unlucky not to take a wicket) whilst Max, pitching it up a bit more today, took 3 wickets including Chappel and Woolfe caught behind by Ben Renison (the second is up for catch of the season). Max has been on fire this year.

Interspersed between these wickets was a further 3 run outs as panic now, in turn, spread through the opposition ranks and it was difficult to comprehend such a sudden turn around of events - by the time Max and Zain had completed their spells Alderley were rocking at 68-8! Final change brought on Raheem who took Matty Murter, brilliantly caught at cover by James (who had recovered from copping one in the 'midriff'!) . and almost inevitably the Alderley Edge innings ended with another run out off the first ball of Dans over. 9 wickets for 24 runs!

Game over and back to the mean streets of Didsbury.

So well done boys, you pulled that one out of the fire and on to The Final it is.

Big thanks to Ruddy and all the parents who travelled a long way to support us.