Update by 11’s coach, Kris Tucknott
After a long winter of indoor training, followed by outdoor sessions since mid-April, the U11’s ‘Pairs’ league season is now well under way. After three matches we’ve won one and suffered narrow defeats in the other two fixtures.
Home vs Dogmersfield
The league campaign kicked off with a Friday night home fixture against Dogmersfield, with both sides featuring a number who were playing their first game of hard ball cricket. Batting first, Oakley scored 278 from their 20 overs (losing 6 wickets). Captain Alex Pardoe opened the batting with Finley King and gave the team a solid start, with Finley playing one glorious pull shot to the boundary.
Daniel Saines and Will Rutt continued the sound start, followed by Ed Tucknott and Onela Sapumanage who both looked to increase the run ratewith some aggressive batting. Jacob Potter and Harry Beard were the fourth pair, with Ben Buckmaster and Andrew Thomas concluding our innings.
Into the field and tight bowling throughout our opponent’s innings, backed up with fielding that ranged from excellent to chaotic(!), resulted in a 50-run win. Wickets were shared evenly amongst the team (Andrew (2), Jacob (2), Ben (2),Harry (1), Finley (1) and Dan (1)). A great start to the season!
Away vs Odiham
On a sunny Sunday morning, the u11’s went looking for their second win of the season. Winning the toss, Captain Alex invited the hosts to have a bat. Vivaan Bhatia and Daniel Saines opened the bowling, with Daniel bowling a particularly hostile first over, getting a wicket and only conceding one run.
Will Rutt then took a wicket in the following over, followed by Jacob Potter who took two wickets in his first over. Onela’smix of leg breaks, off spin and medium pace (much like his father’s bowling) then proved difficult for the batters to get away, conceding only one run and one wide from his two overs. Remi Suntah (making his debut) and Alex (who conceded one run in his first over) both continued the tight bowling.
Will followed up his initial spell taking a wicket again in the 12th over before Alex returned towards the end of the innings to take three wickets in his final two overs. Fielding wise, again moments of exceptional skill and commitment from the players, followed up with comical overthrows and misfields. Great entertainment for the crowdbut something for us to work on in training! The hosts reached 276, losing 8 wickets.
Onto the Oakley innings. Vivaan and Finley King opening the batting, with Finley demonstrating solid defence, not wanting to lose his wicket. Ed Tucknott and Onela then followed, with a mixture of forceful batting and quick running between the wickets. Remi, and Harry Beard batted next, with Remi tight in his defence and Harry playing one great shot on to the legside. Slightly behind the run rate by the time Will and Daniel batted they both looked to score quickly.
Will playing one lovely straight drive to the boundary, followed by Daniels flick off of his pads for four. Needing 24 runs from the final pair to win the game, Alex and Jacob both scored boundaries but some great bowling by the hosts in the final two overs resulted in us falling five runs short of victory. Naturally, some disappointment amongst the players but a performance they can all be proud of.
Away vs Aldershot
Two days later and on our travels again, this time a Tuesday evening fixture away to Aldershot (whoever agreed to Aldershot away on a Tuesday evening! Parents, please accept my apologies). After again winning the toss, Alex invited our opponents to bat first. Daniel Saines was handed the new ball, who proceeded to take a wicket with his first delivery (hint of away swing, with the ball hitting middle and off stump).
A rather decent start to the match! Aldershot however recovered, with their first pair batting well and losing no further wickets. Despite not scoring many, Aldershot’s second pair didn’t lose a wicket with fine bowling from Ben Buckmaster, Remi Suntah and George Miller (making his debut). The next wicket to fall was not until the ninth over, Daniel returning to claim his second victim, closely followed with a wicket for Alex.
Special mention must go to the bowlers of the last four overs of the Aldershot innings, Finley, Jacob, Alex and Daniel. Aldershot ended the 16th over with a score of 289, but fine bowling (including a double wicket maiden in the 19thover (great work Alex!) supported by keen fielding (featuring a direct run out from the covers (well done Onela!)) resulted in Aldershot ending their innings on 279.
Fuelled by mid-innings cake, the U11’s response was led by Ed Tucknott and Onela, who appear to like batting together. A flurry of boundaries from Ed, quick running, and a calm lofted drive from Onela got our innings off to a fine start. Ben and Jacob batted next and although boundaries became harder to get, they ran quick singles when possible.
Special mention to Ben who carried on batting after taking a nasty full toss delivery to his forearm. Finley (again determined defence) and Remi increased the score, and they were followed by Daniel and Alex, Daniel calmly flicking two boundaries off his legs in his first over. With 29 needed from the final pair to win the game, George was joined by Ed who got to bat again (not one to look for an excuse, I haven’t mentioned yet that we only had nine players), but despite their best efforts could only add 19 to our total.
So another close defeat. However if we had lost a couple of wickets less, bowled fewer wides, or conceded less byes we would still be out celebrating in Aldershot, even on a school night. But that would be missing the point. As great as it is to win games, there’s a real team spirit developing amongst the players. It’s been really rewarding to watch the boys test their skills against others, enjoy the games and to put into practise the things they have learnt during the training sessions. As there is across all Colts age groups, great signs for the future of the club.
On we go, next up, Hook C at home on Sunday morning.