Heaton Mersey Magic (U10s) High Peak League Match 10
It was the last regular game of the High Peak League tonight at Green Lane. Could tonight's 8, in an all changed team from Tuesday, make it 6 in a row and 8 from 10 wins?
Bollington called incorrectly, so Captain Freddie had his first big call. "Let's bat and tire them out in the field". Calum had a new opening partner in Seth. The communication was excellent and then some late boundaries from both had us 228 for 1. These starts are a vital platform. Captain Freddie and Archie ramped things up, picking up a vital 10 runs in their last 2 overs. Enter Sam and Isaac with a game defining partnership. Every time I looked up from preparing the last pair, runs were being plundered. 47 in 4 overs transformed the match. Tom and Harry added another 20 to set Bollington 299 to win. It felt enough with our bowling and fielding, but the outfield was hard and fast.
The first over sets the tone for what follows. Captain Freddie did not disappoint. Six superb balls, then backed up by opening bowler partner Archie striking in his first over. The match was getting away from Bollington and Mersey didn't let up:
- The ground fielding and backing up was a joy to behold, putting into practice all the training and pre-match pointers
- Everyone was outstanding in the field, but special shouts to Seth, Archie, and Harry who've had a few less games (but you couldn't tell)
- Calum stepped in for 8 overs of great wicketkeeping while Tom cooled down
- Wickets for Tom, Seth, Freddie followed
- And then two for Calum in a pair of outstanding overs, one a great catch by Isaac
- Captain Freddie marshalled the field and bowling attack like a natural
- Harry hit a single stump from 20 yards for a fantastic run out
- Sam continued his development into a formidable pace bowler
- There was an outstanding moment of sportsmanship, led by Archie, when our boys applauded Bollington's last batter back on after the run out
So over to Isaac to bowl our final over for this year in the HPL. 75 to win for Bollington or 13 a ball....... Five beautiful Jofra Archer style balls were followed by a leg spinner to end the season. Perhaps not his best, compared to what had just gone before, but the ball looped up off the bat. No mistake on the caught and bowled, and another headline moment to add to so many. Net scores of 298 versus 224 gave us another comfortable win.
So it was 6 wins in a row and 8 out of 10. That run has been achieved by over 20 of the boys playing some amazing cricket, like a team destined for something special together.
With the highest net run rate, just one win in our two very close losses to the Cheadles would have had us in the HPL semi-finals as an U10, and U9, team in an U11 league. In their first year of hard ball cricket! Flabbergasting
Moment of the match, from Captain Freddie, to Archie for his bowling, fielding, and sportsmanship.
Thank you to @~Paul Fry for umpiring, @AD for scoring, and @Jacqueline, @~Steven, @Rob Hodgkinson, @~Andrew , @~Matthew Hodgkinson, and @~Jimmy for helping get boys ready, tidying up after, and great support.
AND, thank you to Franklin and Charlie for coming down and supporting their team mates so brilliantly.
Some more CCCL games to finish the season, and we then have a couple of summer cups to enjoy. I'm going to miss the HPL though. Well done boys!
