Junior cricket match reports

Ashley Catlin brings us Colts match reports from the last couple of weeks:

Preston under 9 vrs Datchworth

Preston played under sunny skies, batting first the boys batted sensibly although a little slow at times to post a decent total of 276/5 in their overs. The boys have learnt to take the extras as we accumulated 62 Extras and relied on the hard hitting of Harry and Elliott to post the score. Harry found the boundary 5 times in 2 overs to score 23, Elliott ran well with Jacob to score 12.
The bowling was going to have to be good to contain the league leaders, we bowled much better as we bowled slowly but straight. James started well with a wicket with the first ball of the innings’ and would have had a second but the bails did not fall off. Xander then got the second wicket before he took a excellent catch off Elliott. Elliott put us on top when he returned the great figures of 4/3 off his 2 overs.. Jacob chipped in with a swing delivery to bowl the batsman to leave the last pair needing 50. A good effort by them saw them score the highest partnership of the game 29 to leave Datchworth on 255/7. Two wins on the trot, lets hope Letchworth and Stevenage will play us.

Preston under 11 eight a side vrs Letchworth

On what was supposed to be the first of four games in four days for some of the boys, we found ourselves in the field against a inexperienced Letchworth side, Some excellent straight bowling saw wickets fall regularly to leave 199/4 @ the half way stage. The next four overs were interesting as wickets and boundaries were hit. The final four overs saw a couple more wickets as the visitors closed on 217/9. Wickets for Push 2/7 Luke 3/7 Adam 2/12 Joe 1/16.
The batting did not start to well as our plan of rotating the strike and taking singles did not work as Push and Jack struggled to take us to 210/2. Joe and Jude batted well to post an unbeaten 20 runs, Joe getting 13. Tom and Olly came to the wicket and engaged is some friendly banter with heir mate Gabriel, The pair scored 38 with Olly getting 16 an Tom 10, Gabriel had the last laugh as he caught Olly.
The last pair of Adam and Luke played some good shots and took us 293/5. Adam hit some good drives to score15 and Luke 10. Seven wins from seven.

Preston vrs Stevenage under 11 – 11 a side

Unfortunately Stevenage had to concede the game, which saw us go top of the league.

Preston under 12 vrs Stevenage

Preston travelled to Stevenage on a lovely evening. On being inserted the boys made a slow but steady start as Frazer and Ewan hit a couple of boundaries and after Ewan departed Ben joined Frazer and we struggled to get the ball away. Frazer went run out for 14 and then Ben and Shaan departed. After 12 overs we were 25/4. There needed to be a some positive play and with Olly and Guy at the wicket they entered put on 25 in 3 overs with Guy scoring 11. Adam joined Olly ad they put on another 25 in 3 overs with Olly retiring on 33 hitting 6 boundaries and 1 6. Adam found the boundary a couple of times to finish on 17 and Billy on 1.
Requiring 90 to win Stevenage started well despite Adam taking a early wicket. Stevenage got to 42 after 10 overs and the need for tight bowling was required. Josh came to the party conceding 2 off his 3 overs Ewan bowled 2 maidens taking a wicket. Will S making his debut bowled 2 good overs and then Olly finished off the innings with 2 wickets with a good catch by Ben. A very good fielding display by all.

Preston under 12 vrs Pirton

The weeks games finished at the picturesque Maydoncroft Manor. Bowling first they restricted Pirton to 111/4 with Shaan Tom and Luke being the pick of the bowlers. Billy picked up two catches behind the stumps.
The reply never got going as we were 12/6 before Alex top scored with 7 to take us to 33 all out.