U11 Tigers still undefeated

View from the Boundary

Sunday 11th July 2021 – Didsbury U11 Tigers beat Macclesfield U11 by 13 runs.

Rain won’t delay the Tigers Party!!

So, after 2 rain impacted weekends Didsbury U11 Tigers came out all guns blazing to carry on their undefeated season. Firstly, on 20th June Urmston cancelled their fixture due to a “waterlogged” pitch (Rab offered an alternative venue, but this was declined). Then last weekend (04/07/21) the Tigers had Bowden 59/3 off 14 overs before rain stopped play. This meant that this weekend’s visit of Macclesfield was a must win for the boys to get them back towards the top of the league.

Rab selected a strong Tigers Lineup for this crucial match against an opposition that was certainly going to put up a fight. Macclesfield had cruised through their group and were sitting undefeated for 2 years!

Adam lost the toss and Macclesfield chose to bowl. Opening the batting would be the strong partnership of Kush Patel and Charlie Tucker. The boys dug in well in the face of excellent Macclesfield opening bowling, the first 5 overs went by with 17 runs scored (Kush with 2 fours). The Strong bowling continued for several overs and despite a couple of running between the wicket mixups the openers batted on well. The first ball of over 9 saw Kush retire (27 off 31) after hitting his 4th 4 of the innings (37/0). James Coventry was jumped up the order slightly to come in at 3 after the solid start the openers had made. The foundation was laid and the runs were going to come!

James and Charlie continued the good start with excellent rotation of the strike interspersed with the odd 4. Taking the score onto 55/0 after 10 overs and 72/0 after 13. Overs 14 and 15 saw the change in the game that swung everything in Didsbury’s favor. The solid foundation that had been built up was taken on to another level. Charlie hit his first of 4 4’s in over 14 then 2 in 2 balls during the 15th and retired with a 4 on the first ball of the 16th (28 off 36). The 15th over had gone for 15 runs and the marked increase in tempo set the boys on their way. Adam Siddique came in to replace him.

James retired mid-way through the 17th over having scored 25 off 29 with 2 4s and was replaced by Aaron Brody. Adam was out 2 balls later though for 3 off 8 balls (101/1). In fairness to Adam at this stage of the game the tempo was up and quick runs were needed with plenty of batsmen left in the shed being aggressive was the way forward. He was attempting this but got bowled. The same happening to Calum Isbister who was out first ball during the 18th over.

So Raees Mirza was in at 7 with 2.5 overs left. He and particularly Aaron took the game on scoring a further 21 runs with the 15 balls that were left. Aaron finished on 22 off 11 with 4 4s and Raees 2 off 6. The total was 125/2.

In my opinion this is easily the best batting performance I’ve seen from the boys. The patience showed at the start by Kush, Charlie and then James was only matched by the increase in pace at exactly the right time by Charlie and James, finished off superbly by Aaron. Raees did well to keep Aaron on strike at the right time in the match whilst Adam and Cal can consider themselves unlucky.

Now for a bowl.

Charlie opened the bowling followed by Isaac Hindmarsh, Calum, Kush and Isaac again. 5 overs bowled 27 runs conceded. Macclesfield were going well. Even more so after the 6th over when Alfie Storey went for 10. However, this saw the end of Joe Harrison the Macclesfield opener who retired on 27 off 22 5 4s. Lucas Burns and Aru Bhawati were at the crease and the runs really slowed for Macc. The next 9 overs (Raees, Solomon, Raees, Solomon, Aaron, Kush, Ibrahim, Charlie and Calum) only went for 43 runs and the score was 89/0 when Lucas retired in the 16th over (25 off 35 2 4s).

James and Adam were left to bowl the final 4 overs under pressure from the senior Didsbury team desperate to start their afternoon match on time!! Over 17 went for 6 runs, 18 for 3 and 19 for 10. This left Macclesfield needing 16 off the last over which was put to bed by Kush running out Tristan Lamprecht (14 off 13 2 4s) and Adam who bowled Jack Butterworth (1 off 3). Adams obvious delight was in stark contrast to the angst of the Senior members who wanted to get under way.

Testament to Macclesfield who had 3 top order batsmen retire the same as Didsbury. The difference between the teams being the increase in rate in the middle overs from Didsbury. On the Bowling side special mention to Raees (2 overs for 3 runs), Calum (2 for 6) and Adam (2 for 6 with 1 wicket). Special mention also to James and Kush for good glove work behind the stumps.

Genuinely a great watch from the sideline and the Tigers supporters are looking forward to next weeks mouthwatering top of the table clash against the Didsbury U11 Lions! It looks to be a winner takes all clash of the Titans. The Lions remaining fixture is against Macclesfield whilst the Tigers take on Lindow Gold.

Although this was a particularly strong team performance man of the match for me would be Charlie. His batting firstly with Kush and then with James was excellent. He increased the scoring rate at just the right time leaving the team in a position of strength to finish off the innings. Exactly what an opener should do.