Sunday 6th August 2023 – U11 v Kidlington friendly:
The U11 pairs team played a friendly against Kidlington on Sunday and managed to get the game on despite the rain from the previous day, which cancelled all fixtures.
Following an 8am pitch inspection and consultation with the ground team, the covers were removed from the track which was untouched from the previous days 2nd XI fixture. The outfield was damp but the Meadow breeze was drying it up all the time and the decision was made to get go ahead with the match.
Kidlington won the toss and put Thame into field, which they were happy with given the outfield would likely get drier and allow for more return, plus it also gave them a chance to chase down a score.
The Thame all pace attack took wickets at regular intervals. 6 in total shared amongst Harry, Teddy, Theo, Charlie, Chloe and Dylan. Ryan was unlucky not to take a wicket despite bowling his 2 overs for just 1 run. Wides and No Balls were kept to a minimum, but 25 Byes were given away such was the pace of the bowling, the trickiness to keep and the risk taking of the opposition. On several occasions Kidlington were lucky to not be run out. For some reason a force field around the stumps made it impossible for Thame to hit them with at least 6 attempts! When Clement finally made contact with a direct hit, sadly it was at the wrong end and the batter was well in.
The opposition made 267-6 after 20 overs, just as a shower started.
All except the hard-core Stewart spectators took shelter in the Pavilion, which will be 5 years old in October and available to hire for members at a special rate.
The light shower passed quickly, during which time the players munched on snacks and took on fluids ready for the 2nd innings. Thame were ready for the chase.
One of the advantages of playing pairs cricket is that if you get cleaned up by the first ball of the innings you swap ends, lose 5 runs and carry on as opposed to walking back to the hutch playing the moment over and over in your mind whilst you sit down to watch the rest of the innings!
Harry and Jack opened and made 26 runs (gross) and ran between the wickets very well.
Theo and Felix also made a good partnership with Theo batting very sensibly by defending the straight ones and letting rip at the loose ones.
Charlie and Chloe batted well together, and Charlie made an unbeaten 15 including a maximum.
And so it was left to the ‘cool heads’ of Ryan and Teddy as the final pair to chase down the target set of 268.
Going into the 20th and final over Thame were on 270 and a lead of 2 but the loss of any wicket would reduce the total by -5 runs.
By the end of the 5th delivery of the final over Thame had made it into the lead with 273 which meant that all they had to do was defend one more ball for victory.
BUT, such is the ‘new brand’ of cricket played by TTCC U11s ‘they’ decided to make it more interesting and give Kidlington a chance of a wicket, and hence a draw, by running a quick single which Usain Bolt might have struggled to make.
With the ball and the two Thame batters at the wicket keepers end, the Kidlington fielder picked up and threw the length of the pitch toward the stumps at the bowlers end.
The home side umpire at that end experienced a peculiar feeling of time slowing down before him, whilst he watched the ball narrowly miss the stumps and roll to the boundary for four overthrows. Thankfully for him, the defibrillator, which is located on the outside wall at the Barns Centre was not required and Thame won by finishing on 277-7. What an extraordinary game!
As always, thanks to Dan and Alex for helping and families for supporting.
We will keep coaching through the summer holidays until the kids stop turning up or the weather gets the better of us!
Written by Matt Swain, James Tilley & Dan Constant
Summer Holiday Camps 2023 at TTCC:
Week 1: Monday 21st to Friday 25th August
Week 2: Tuesday 29th to Friday 1st September
https://www.thamecricket.org.uk/summer-holiday-courses-book-now-2023/
Would you like to join us?
TTCC U11s (Year 5 & 6) practice on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm to 6:45pm. We have a squad of 25 boys and girls who play in two Oxfordshire cricket league competitions with matches being played on Sunday mornings. The team is coached by 4 ECB qualified volunteer coaches and the clubs Overseas professional. There are regular social events throughout the season including a trip to Lords for the T20 Natwest Blast in June.
If you would like to join or find out more please contact:
James Tilley (u11@thamecricket.org.uk / 07970 212545)