Latest junior cricket reports

4th June 2015

Ashley Catlin with the latest news and reports from our Junior sides:

Preston under 12 vrs Weston

Preston got back on tracks after the defeat to Hitchin. With Jack, Olly and Pushan coming into the team this strengthened the batting . On being inserted Guy and Jack made a good start with Jack finding the boundary and singles being taken. Guy departed for a couple and Ben then came to the wicket and with the wides increasing the score went above 50. Ben departed and Pushan strode confidently to the wicket. Jack was nearing 30 and was trying for the big shot to take him there. A good shot was well stopped and Push was unfortunately run out. A tired Olly C came to the wicket looking to increase the run rate, Jack soon retired for another well made 30. The next 4 and half overs saw Olly and Alex putting on 48 runs with Olly scoring 33 of 16 balls, before retiring, the innings closed on 121/3.
The Weston reply started steadily against some accurate bowling from Push and Ewan, Joe introduced himself into the attack and was straight in on the act as he took a couple of wickets. A good piece of fielding with a direct throw by Ewan saw us start to take charge. The number 4 bat then let fire with a series of boundaries before he had to retire, the game then came to an end with Weston 94-6. Joe finished with 2-16, Guy 1-3, Jack 1-4.
Well Done boys.

Preston under 9 vrs Hitchin under 9

Preston 310/1 Hitchin 263/4

A brief report as the reporter was missing for 70% of the game.
On a bitterly cold and windy evening the lads traveled to Hitchin. On losing the toss the boys found themselves batting, Sensible batting throughout the team and the help of 47 extras saw the boys post 310/1. Key performances with the bat came from Harry 21 and Elliott 18 who found the boundary on various occasions. Other scores of note,Jacob (6) Nidhaan (7) Freddie (8) James (4) Nathan (3)
In gloomy light the lads took the field and raced through their overs to restrict the oppo to 263/4. Notable wicket takers Elliott 1/1 Jacob 1/15 Freddie 1/8 and Harry 1/19.
Well done boys on your first win

Preston under 11 eight a side vrs Harpenden

On a glorious evening the boys including birthday boy Olvier Jackson traveled to Harpenden. Winning the toss Olly elected to bowl and the decision seemed a good one as Jack with 2 wickets and Adam with 1 left the home side on 195/3 after 4 overs. A sensible next four overs from Harpenden with only one wicket falling to Joe took them to 205/4.

The next 4 overs saw 3 wickets from Pushan, Adam and Joe to leave them 204/7. A strong last wicket partnership say Harps take the score to 231/7.
Best bowlers Adam 2/13 Joe 2/9 Jack 2/13and Push ¼. Special mention to Jude nursing his black eye who kept extremely well.
The reply started poorly with Jack getting bowled in the first over, the recovery came with Jude (6) playing some excellent shots and then Jack (21)finding the boundary took the score to 223/1. Push and Joe played sensibly and picked up the singles and the odd boundary to take us into the lead on 238/1.
Adam (8) entered the scene of his large knock last year but was bowled early as Tom (5) and himself struggled to get the ball away and accumulated 10 runs in the partnership. The final 4 overs would need something special for the boys to lose and again some steady batting from Oliver(3) and power hitting from Olly including the trade mark reversed say they lads finish on 277/2. A good effort, but Harpenden fielded a lot better than us and we need to concentrate in the field in the coming games.

Preston under 11 eight a side vrs Hitchin

The second game in two days saw a couple of changes, Jack and Frazer in for Oliver and Pushan. Winning the toss Olly elected to bowl, a steady start by Hitchin had scored 17 from the first 3 ½ overs before a suicide second was taken off the last ball and a run out occurred. The second set of four overs saw 3 wickets fall, with Olly Frazer and Adam taking a wicket each and Jack M taking a catch. Half way and the score was 209/4. The third pair saw us bowl a fair few wides but we took two wickets from Joe and Frazer. The last pair batted well and hit 3 boundaries and dismissed once to a Olly outswinger. The innings closed on 227/6.
The team elected to go out in normal pairs and Jude (6 )and Jack M (14)went first and scored 27 with some good shots to the boundary, Jude smashed his first delivery through mid wicket for 4. Jack hit a couple of back foot drives for 4.
Joe and Jack C played some excellent pull shots as both found the boundary in putting on 24, Joe scoring 10 and Jack C 12. At the half way mark the score was 251/1. Adam and Tom then ran well and again pulled the ball to the boundary to put on 36. Tom scored 18 and Adam 12. The final pair of Olly and Frazer came to the wicket and the boundary was found regularly in the first two overs as they put on 20, the scoring then slowed and the innings finished on 319/1, with Olly top scoring with 20. A good couple of days, full credit to the Hitchin team who fielded well and never gave up.