U10s / U11s – weeks 7 & 8 – match summaries
The wet summer continued to thwart our best cricketing intentions, with three games postponed due to rain, another match postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Bramhall (despite it being a reasonably nice afternoon/evening) and, to make matters worse, a further match postponed due to lack of numbers (although from memory it rained that morning anyway). In all, the 7th week saw 5 games postponed. But then the sunny weather finally arrived, enabling us to play 6 matches in week 8, and we won all of them!
Tuesday 18th June 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 269 (105/9 off 16) beat Didsbury Leopards 242 (66/6 off 16) by 27 runs – High Peak league pairs (Scorecard)
Fantastic performance from the Phoenix team. The final score was Mersey 269-9 vs Didsbury 242-6. Phoenix batted first with great shots and running between the wickets from all pairs. Felix and Thomas both hit multiple fours. The final two pairs of Harry/Albert and Arjo/Max piled on the runs with lots of smart singles to post a target of 269. The team’s bowling was even more impressive: wickets from George (x2), Finn, Max and Arjo and also a run out from Finn. The bowling economy was fantastic from all, restricting Didsbury to only a handful of fours across the whole innings. There was a great team spirt with lots of positive encouragement and wicket celebrations. Fantastic performance and a well-deserved victory. Well done, everyone.
Tuesday 18th June 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 340 (156/4 off 20) beat Hyde 234 (70/9 off 20) by 106 runs – Cheshire league pairs (Scorecard)
A comfortable win for the home team against an inexperienced Hyde team in the Cheshire group pairs game. The toss was won by captain Isaac G and he decided to bat on a very green-looking pitch. The away team initially bowled well, taking a couple of early wickets as the opening pair, Isaac and Zayaan, came to terms with the low and unpredictable bounce. The runs then flowed at a steady rate as Mersey took lots of singles with excellent calling and running as the batters adjusted to the wicket with intelligent batting.
The score was a solid 284 before the last pair, Billy, and Sam, came in. Immediately the tempo increased as first Billy then Sam scored at a ferocious pace; Billy hitting a glorious six in his first ever game of cricket! The pair scored 56 runs off four overs flaying Hyde’s attack. Double digit scores from Zayaan, Younas, James, Billy and Sam who top scored with 36 (including 3 sixes, one of which nearly making its way into the tennis courts, and 3 fours) ensuring that Mersey reached an excellent 340.
The away side struggled from the onset as Mersey’s opening bowlers charged in getting bounce off a docile pitch. Wickets tumbled as Dylan produced a superb first over taking three wickets bowling a full length. Harvey then picked up three wickets in two overs with full, looping deliveries. Mersey bowled a tight line and length, with Will, James and Monty bowling with great skill and accuracy. Despite a good last partnership from Hyde, Mersey wrapped-up the victory with ease.
Top wicket takers were Dylan (4 for 10) and Harvey (3 for 20) and both Will and James bowled two maidens each. The ground fielding from Mersey was good throughout with no overthrows and the catching was excellent (no dropped catches). Well done to the whole team and Billy in particular in his first ever game with aggressive batting and dexterous wicket-keeping.
Wednesday 19th June 2024: Lindow Girls U13 Thunder 234 (78/11 off 16) lost to Heaton Mersey Magic 261 (85/6 off 16) by 27 runs – High Peak league pairs (Scorecard)
A fantastic win for Mersey last night on a beautiful evening away at top of the table Lindow. Batting first on a slow and low pitch, Zayaan and Will made steady progress with 3 fours and just one wicket off the last ball. Stan with 3 fours and Cameron protecting his wicket and pushing singles kept the scoreboard ticking. Another solid pairing from Billy and Gregory followed before the big finish with Sam hitting 3 sixes (one had the spectators diving out of the way) with Charlie providing the perfect support role.
50 to 60 is par for a High Peak pairs game so a close game looked likely. However, when it was our turn in the field the bowlers were on fire, Stan as always bowling the perfect line and length and scattering the stumps with 3 for 6. Gregory joined him with 3 overs and 2 wickets, with 2 for Sam too as he got some purchase on the ball and found some turn. Charlie and Zayaan kept it tight with good pace and Cameron was great on debut, bowling out one of their Cheshire players. Billy in his 2nd match kept tidily on a difficult pitch. Biggest shout out to Will though who took 3 for 3 which included a ridiculous caught and bowled that I wasn't going to give because it seemed impossible that he'd catch it. 3 wins from 3 now.
Thursday 20th June 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 281 (89/2 off 20) beat Brooklands 258 (94/9 off 20) by 23 runs – Cheshire league pairs (Scorecard)
An excellent win for the home team against a well-drilled Brooklands outfit in this pivotal Cheshire league pairs game. The toss was lost by the captain, Felix, and the away team decided to bat first. On a sunny, pleasantly warm evening, Brooklands struggled for runs early on as Mersey displayed their usual accurate bowling with Stan and Zayaan working in tandem beautifully. Despite some sluggish outfielding and an early injury to the wicketkeeper, Isaac, which disrupted play early on, Mersey picked up regular wickets throughout the innings.
Arjo (with 3 for 2) and Monty (with 3 for 6) obliterated the away team’s middle pairings which slowed their scoring rate after they had threatened to post a high score. Superb catching by Adam (aka bucket hands) augmented the fine bowling. There were wickets also for Harrison, Sam, and Zayaan. Mersey took nine wickets in total. Brooklands were set a target of 258 to beat which looked below par, but scores have been lower this season due to damp pitches and slow outfields.
Mersey batted with care and scored a steady rate early on as the Brooklands bowlers bowled straight with reduced pace which made scoring harder. With only the loss of one wicket, at the halfway stage, the home side were 231; Isaac came in and batted nicely, hitting four boundaries and top scoring with 19; a fine effort given his finger injury. Arjo and Zayaan batted sensibly and as the last pair approached the crease Mersey were level at 258. Adam and Sam then batted out, losing just one more wicket, with Adam cracking a couple of sumptuous drives to seal an excellent, hard-fought victory.
This important victory not only avenged the defeat by the same opponents a few days previously but put Mersey in pole position in the league with three group games to go.
Sunday 23rd June 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 61/1 (9.1) beat Didsbury Lions 60/8 (20.0) by 9 wickets – South Manchester league T20 (Scorecard)
A glorious morning for a T20 match against Didsbury. Didsbury won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening bowlers Joseph and Shazil were very tidy and runs were hard to come by. Stan added to the pressure with 2 very tight overs. With the pressure on, 3 wickets in one over by Adam turned the screw and the opposition were on the back foot. A further 2 wickets for Sam in quick succession, then good bowling from Will, and the opposition were really struggling.
The bowling was lively with wickets for Harrison and Jesse. Leo H and Gregory as the final bowling pair conceded only 7 runs in 4 overs between them. Fielding was generally good and Mersey restricted Didsbury to just 60, which looked short. Billy kept well for the full 20 overs in difficult conditions with some balls staying very low. The top scorer was “extras” with 17, with a couple of boundaries that on another day may have been prevented, so still areas to improve in, but good encouragement and team work were shown throughout.
Joseph and Harrison opened the batting, respecting the wicket with some low-keeping balls. Sam came into bat with the score on 10/1. After confirmation from Manchester Airport that flights were on hold, he decided to hit out with a couple glorious sixes. Harrison grew into his innings with a few lovely 4’s. Sam, heading for retirement, hit a big six to take his personal score to 30. Meanwhile, Harrison and Adam saw the game out in less than 10 overs for what turned out to be comfortable victory.
The offer of a ‘beer’ match was rejected which was a shame as it would have been nice to get everyone to have a bat, but there is plenty of cricket to come and it looks like summer has finally arrived! Well done and a great effort by all.
Sunday 23rd June 2024: Heaton Mersey Phoenix 324 (124/0 off 16) beat North East Cheshire 244 (76/8 off 16) by 80 runs – High Peak league pairs (Scorecard)
A comfortable win for Mersey against a mixed NEC team. Both teams were only able to field 7 players on a blistering hot Sunday at Green Lane. NEC batted first and were immediately on the back foot with a wicket for Albert in the first over. The opposition responded well in the second over but were pegged back further by some quick bowling from Arjo and the ever consistent Albert, reaching 19 for 3.
Felix and Harvey then gave away few scoring shots and took a wicket each returning combined figures of 17 for 2. Tommy and Miles continued Mersey's vice-like grip, taking a wicket each and only conceding singles. A superb return of 10 for 2. NEC were rocking. Their final pair batted superbly to bludgeon them to 244. Seb from the under 9s bowled accurately, without any luck on his hardball debut.
Albert and Arjo got Mersey off to a solid start adding 23, with one boundary from Arjo. They handed over to Felix and Harvey. The former produced the batting display of the season so far, with a composed 43 from 15 balls, ably supported by Harvey who struck a lovely boundary himself. Tommy and Miles kept the scoreboard ticking over in the third pairing. Tommy then batted again with Seb. The debutant acquitted himself superbly, striking 2 balls to the rope, and was narrowly outdone by his more experienced partner hitting 3 boundaries.
Thanks to Albert's dad Will for scoring. The boys were outstanding in their attitude. To bat for 16 overs and not lose a wicket, chasing a relatively low total, is testament to their character.
