It’s not just football that’s coming home…

Today was our local derby – playing the Puma’s who sat second in the league on run rate at the start of play. They had a couple of changes to their team today.

Harper was our captain today, ably assisted by Lily. Harper did a fantastic job of organising the team and ensuring players were where she wanted them whilst we were fielding – she also chose the batting pairs and order and bowling order. Well done Harper.

Ben was the opposition captain. After an initial mix up of whose left had been called a re-hide and draw was done. Ben was unable to find the
grass and Harper therefore was able to choose to field first.

Charlie T and Nishant were the first Puma batters. Megan D, Ami & Jess covered the first four overs. The batters started confidently hitting the ball well to take 3 singles off the first over. Megan took our first wicket, that of Nishant, with the first ball of her second over. Jess replicated this taking Charlie T’s wicket with the first ball of her first over. In the fourth over we also managed to get a run out with a smart throw back to Monnie at the wickets by Emily to run out Nishant.

At the end of this pair the score had moved onto 193.

Oscar and Charlie H were next in and faced the bowling of Erin, Issy, Emily & Harper. They both carried their bats through their innings - Oscar presented a stout defense blocking away several balls. Charlie also played some nice defensive shots but also managed to stroke the ball away for some well run 1s. It was a good display of bowling from all 4 girls with only 2 wides across the 4 over period and a good maiden for Erin. During Erin’s over Howzat was a regular shout as LBW was claimed – the umpire was though un-moved. At the end of this pair the score had moved onto 200.

Frankie & Lucia were next to go to the crease and faced the bowling of Megan Clark, Lily, Monnie & Ami. The pair found it hard to move the ball around for many runs. Megan Clark picked up a maiden over. Lily and Monnie only went for extras. Ami produced a wicket with the first ball of her second over conceding only 1 run off that over.

At the end of this pair the score had moved onto 207.

Henry & Solomon were next in, facing the bowling of Monnie, Jess, Erin & Issy. There were some great shots on display from the boys – Henry picked up a lovely 4 and they both played some good shots. The girls stuck at their task as they had throughout the match, bowling accurately. Jess picked up a wicket, bowling Henry and also had a run out in her over. Erin also took a lovely bowled wicket in her final over.

Issy assisted with a good run out - a sharp throw back to the stumps by Harper was a little high – Issy (as the bowler) had gone to the stumps and managed to divert the ball down onto the stumps to take the wicket of Solomon as he was only just unable to make up the ground.

At the end of this pair the score had moved onto 195. The clatter of wickets hampering the forward momentum.

The final pair in were Ben and Ted and they were to face the bowling of Emily, Harper, Megan C and Lily.

Ben smashed the first ball from Emily for a great 6 over the onside boundary – a fantastic shot. The rest of the over was dots, 1 and a wide.

Emily caught Ted off the bowling of Megan Clark – I thought Emily had misjudged the flight of the ball and run a bit too far but she proved me wrong - keeping her eye on the ball and holding on to it securely. The next ball was hit for a good 4 by Ben. In the final over Lily took the wicket of Ted and earned herself a wicket maiden.

After this final pair the score had moved onto 204.

Our wicket takers today were
Jess 2-0-3-2
Lily 2-1-0-1
Megan D 2-0-4-1
Erin 2-0-4-1
Megan C 2-1-6-1
Ami 2-0-6-1
Good maidens for Megan C and Lily with Lily’s being a wicket maiden.

There was also good bowling from those who did not register a wicket
Issy 2-0-2-0
Emily 2-0-9-2
Harper 2-0-3-0
Monnie 2-0-2-0

Monnie & Megan were our wicket keepers today and both did really well.

Lily & Harper were our opening pair and set off briskly picking up 5 and 6 runs off the opening 2 overs from Charlie T and Charlie H. During the third over Lily picked up a good 4 off the opening ball from Nishant. They managed to run a single and then pick up an extra after an overthrow as well as three other singles to get 9 from the over.
Lily faced the majority of the balls (15) and picked up 17 runs. Harper picked up 6 runs from the 8 balls faced.

At the end of this pair we had moved onto to 229.

Monnie & Erin were next in. The girls ran three good runs off the early part of the over – confidently calling. At the end of the over Erin didn’t quite catch the ball hard enough and was caught out by Charlie T. The rest of the innings for the girls was made up of some well run singles and byes – constantly looking for runs. We did lose another couple of wickets – 1 was a run out with Monnie just falling short of the crease. Lucia then took a great caught and bowled - Erin let her bottom hand go a little too far forward as she struck the ball and was caught by Lucia.

There were very few dot balls recorded which shows that the girls were constantly looking for runs and moving well.

At the end of this pair the score had moved onto 223.

Our next pair were Issy and Emily - as with the previous pair there were again very few dot balls recorded – I have only logged 5 - with the rest being 1’s or 2’s. There was some good clear calling, crisp running between the wickets and good movement of the ball with the bat. The pair added plenty of runs and both carried their bats.

At the end of this pair the score had moved onto 256.

Next in were Ami and Megan Clark There were some good singles and some good defensive shots from both girls – both Ami and Megan have great technique with the bat on this occaision though - they both found it tricky to turn the shots into runs.

At the end of this pair the score had moved on to 272.

Megan Driskel and Jess were our final pair. Our runs on the board were impacted by a few lost wickets in this period. Megan did pick up a nice 4 and 3 singles. Jess contributed several good singles and a 2. During this period Charlie Hollands had a fantastic over taking the wicket of Megan twice with good deliveries and the Puma’s also gained a run out during the over.

At the end of this pair and the game we had moved onto 274 and had won the match.

Lily again top scored, with a good 17. Monnie and Emily were the next best with 8 each.

There was some good cricket from both sides. The Greens showed a little more match experience than the Puma’s with our running between the wickets being a little more confident and aggressive and our fielding a little tighter – that is something borne from experience and the Puma’s will pick that up.

But there were some good moments from both teams

• Lucias caught and bowled (in what I understand to be her first hardball game) was a great moment.
• Charlie T had a direct hit to the stumps to take a run out as well as taking a great catch
• Charlie H’s double wicket over
• Lucia’s direct hit (the batter was safe but it was a great throw)
• A great one handed stop by Henry
• Ben’s 6 off his first ball.
• Lily’s 17 runs
• Harpers Captaincy
• Jess’ 2 wickets
• All of the Greens Bowling

The Greens are now top of the league with 2 to play. Our next match will be another tough one against what has previously been a very good North Curry side. We then finish the league season at Staplegrove.