Catlin's Colts Cricket Report: 5th May 2014

The colts cricket season got under way with the unusual site of blue skies and the Sun. Three games have taken place with all the under 10/11 teams getting their league campaigns started.

First up was the under 10 Incrediball team. On winning the toss the team batted first, batting sensibly and accumulating runs they scored 289/2 in their allocated overs. Top scoring for Preston were Jack M with 18 and Jude with 9, and the total was boosted by 34 extras. Stevenage were never really in the chase and although they batted well to only lose 2 wickets they finished 30 runs short on 259/2.

Next up were the inexperienced under 11 hard ball team, who entertained local rivals Pirton. On a damp evening Pirton elected to field first. With four debutants in the team it was always going to be a learning curve, and the inexperience in the batting told with the first three pairs leaving us on 193. The last pair of Billy and Olly batted well to score 29 runs for 1 dismissal to leave us on 217/8, Olly top scoring with 13. In reply the sensible batting from all the Pirton players saw them surpass the Preston score and finish on 242/2. Preston’s best bowlers were Pushan, who took both wickets, and Olly and Guy. A good effort for their first game. Point to learn: don’t give silly wickets away.

The final game of the week saw a rearranged fixture against St Margaretsbury. On a lovely bank holiday morning we won the toss and elected to field. With confidence high after last season, the boys were looking forward to the challenge of the hard ball. Adam opened the bowling and started with a maiden, Pushan followed by bowling the batsman and at the end of the first set of 4 overs the oppo were on 208. The next pair were soon a wicket down when Olly bowled one second ball, but a dropped catch and some wayward bowling saw this pair finish on 220. The third pair again relied on extras and although Pushan bowled another bat they finished on 233. The last pair only scored 2 off the bat and 6 extras, but more importantly they were not dismissed to finish the innings on 241/3.
In reply Preston knew patience and not giving wickets away were vital. The first pair of Pushan and Tom matched the oppo and scored 208, next up was Jude and Jack and some cautious batting saw us finish on 215. With the aggressive batting to come a victory was possible. Adam hit his first ball for 4 and scored off the next 2 balls to put us on the way, but unfortunately a dismissal saw the score go back to where we were. Then a positive next over with good shots from Luke and Adam saw us start to come close. The turning point of the game came at the end of the third over when we lost 2 wickets in 2 balls to leave us on 217. With 4 singles off the last over , it was left to the last pair to score 21. Striding to the wicket both Ollys were confident. After 3 balls the score had increased by 6 runs, but then we lost a crucial wicket which meant we needed 20 off 3 overs. The total was reduced to 14 off 2 when Olly C hit a boundary: 2 overs to go and 12 needed. Dots off the first 4 balls meant the pressure was mounting, and the game was all but over when Olly C was bowled off the last ball. Despite a spirited attempt in the last over we finished 9 runs short. Top scorers Olly 14 and Adam 9.