The U11 cricket team launched their season with a game against Pownhall School in Wilmslow. Bridgewater were put into bat on the make shift pitch and got off to a disastrous start. Openers Oliver A and Lukee took a risky single in the first over and Lukee was run out for a duck. In the second over Lukee tried to make amends and went to hit a six, only to be caught out on the boundary. Bridgewater suddenly found themselves on -10 runs to be deducted from their 200 run starting point.
Thomas and Craig came in to bat next and benefited from some erratic bowling to move the score up past 215. Matteo and Jaydon looked to accelerate the scoring, but a miss-timed drive from Matteo led to another wicket and -5 off the total. Needing some runs without losing wickets Alfie and David came into bat to close the innings. David kept his wicket intact at one end, whilst Alfie went on the attack at the other end. A string of boundaries and a quick fire 14 from Alfie brought the Bridgewater score up to 238 at the end of the innings.
Pownhall were certainly a stronger batting side than a bowling side. However, Bridgewater are a more consistent bowling side and this was to make for a thrilling finale to the game. Bridgewater knew they needed wickets and got off to a great start with Oliver A taking a wicket in the first over. Lukee bowled well to tie the opposition down early on and Thomas continued this in the following over. Unfortunately, Craig had to bowl to Pownhall’s best player and he hit a series of boundaries to put Pownhall in control of the game.
Bridgewater needed a wicket and Matteo and Jaydon were brought on to make the break through. A dropped catch off the bowling off Matteo was a blow, but a brilliant delivery from Jaydon put the smile back on the faces of the team. Another wicket from David and one from Alfie meant that going into the final over, Pownhall needed six to win the game.
The task of bowling the decisive over went to Oliver A. A single off the first ball and a crazy mix up in the field reduced the gap to two runs with two balls to come. Oliver remained calm and bowled two wonderful bowls that the desperate Pownhall batsmen could not hit. The hosts finished on 236 and meant that Bridgewater had pulled off an impressive win against all the odds. The game will give the team confidence as they travel to Queen Ethelburga College, York next Thursday to try and retain the ISA North Pairs Cricket title. Well done team and thank you to Pownhall School for their hospitality once again.