In keeping with recent international cricket tradition, the Under 11 cricket played their first match of the season in the rain. They were up against the old foe of Mayville. Alton was sent into bat after losing the toss and Edward and Lewis opening the innings with slight cases of nerves. Their overs completed, they were able to loose one wicket and brought the score to 215 (each team begins with 200 runs). The more experienced pair of Jacob and skipper William took charge of some poor bowling and added 29 runs to the score with the loss of a wicket (and thus a 5 run penalty to their score). Joel and Alex showed good concentration by not giving their wicket away and bringing the total to 258 after their 4 allotted overs. Mayville began to make field adjustments by packing the leg side as the Alton batsmen were playing to that side. However with the next pairing of Matthew and Josh found the gaps in the offside and played shots that brought singles. Matthew played a delightful square cut that left the fielders bewildered. The boys brought the score to an excellent 288. Henry and Tom faced tighter bowling and lost a couple of wickets, finishing up with innings closed at 280 for the loss of 4 wickets.
The Alton boys has shown in their lessons and club that their bowling is their strength, so there was confidence that the team would roll over Mayville cheaply. However, whether the bowlers were too complacent or trying too hard, Mayville had the same run rate as Alton, with 215 after 4 overs. The change came when Lewis and Tom bowled through their 3 overs with the Lewis 1 for 2 runs and Tom who gained 5 wickets for 6 runs. This reduced Mayville to 197 after 11 overs. Alton restricted Mayville in the field with a good fielding display and kept runs to a minimum, however the latter bowlers showed less discipline by giving away too many wides, bringing Mayville's final scoreline to a more respectable 226 with the lost of 13 wickets.
Alton won their first match quite comfortably by 54 runs. Our bowling and concentration in the field will need some improvement if we are to have any chance to get into the final this yea, but in the meantime it is good to thrash Mayville! Player of the match goes to Joel Hinde for solid batting, especially the sweet late cut and consistently good fielding.
John Hoffman, Head of Prep PE.
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