U13A’s silence the Corfton Road Oval

A balmy night in West London and the crowds were out in force to perhaps see a potential upset as the in-form U13B’s took on the unbeaten U13A’s.

Corfton Road buzzed like a cross between the Oval and QPR (on a rare good day), with great vocal support for the B’s giving the atmosphere some bite and also, as the youth of today say, there was some “great banter”….

The U13A’s game plan to stifle their opposition early in their innings got off to a great start with a few B's boys miles away on school match duty – their late arrival resulted in a top-order reshuffle that saw the B’s psychologically on the back foot before a ball was bowled.

To their credit, Dominic and Felix showed everyone how it should be done and between them scored 49 before Seshan claimed the wicket of Felix, who would be his first of 4 scalps ending the innings with a fab 4 for 13 haul. Robbie “Neo” Connelly still maintains his missed stumping early on was purely tactical! Dominic nearly carried his bat but succumbed with only 7 balls of the innings left – sterling effort Dom.

The U13B’s were now into their 10th over and the pressure to move on their run-rate saw wickets tumble at regular intervals to good bowling and excellent catching, with the U13A’s not missing any of their chances. Andre looked menacing on a strike rate of over 160 but fell to what was Radford’s only wicket but at that stage of the game an all important one. For not the first time this season the U13A’s top scored for their opposition with 30 extras….cough, cough boys.

The B’s set the A’s 111 to win and the crowd felt that they would have to strike early to rattle the A’s. Had the B’s held on to the only chance Neo gave them early on in his innings then you never know what might have happened – as it was, Neo made them pay and went on to a well-deserved otherwise pretty flawless half-century with 8 fours and a six into the side of parked car – not mine this time…

Ludo, who kept asking what position he was batting from the 15th over of the opposition innings and therefore on the brink of being demoted to 12th man, realised what might happen and kept schtum so preserving his position to bat no. 2. He did what was asked of him and scored 42 off 36 balls with a great knock including 7 fours –well done Ludes.

The A’s reached the required runs in just under 13 overs without the loss of a wicket and the call to the EHO was no longer required.

A good game played in a great spirit.