U12s v Lewes Priory

U12s win a wonderfully entertaining game to top the table after two games.

This was the game that had everything and probably the most exciting match I've been involved in. With 237 runs on the board, you can forgive the boys for feeling they had the match in the bag, but short boundaries and a determined and skillful run-chase by the talented Lewes Priory team took it right to the wire. It's a shame someone had to lose, but that's sport for you and it was great to see the boys so happy after the rollercoaster of emotions they, (and the parents!) had been through.

So the match. Joey called heads, it came down tails, the inevitable invitation to bat. We start badly Joe K going early to a fast straight one from the Lewes opener. Enter Tarun. It would be a long time before he departed. Joey looks his usual imperious self and Tarun looked comfortable too. The bowling was good, but the short boundaries allowed no margin for error, and sometimes even good balls were defended away for 4 runs. The partnership grew and it was looking ominous for Lewes as we scored 6 an over without alarm. Then Joey dragged a full ball onto the stumps for a well made 20. Hugo hit one in the air to miss out and Connor was the victim of an unfortunate run-out.

Scott joined a free scoring Tarun and as he did yesterday, batted fluently and confidently in building a partnership with a batsman already well-established. He hit the boundary with some great positive batting several times before mis-cuing a full toss, caught for 26 in a partnership of 74. Charlie hit a nice boundary before being the victim of an umpiring decision that on reflection was probably wrong - edge behind, initially caught by keeper before falling into the knee-roll of his pads. Did Lewes appeal? did he take the catch? I gave it out. Sorry Charlie!

Archie marched in, determined as ever to stick around and get a few for himself too, but by now it was the Tarun show. As the innings progressed, he became more and more confident, and the ball was disappearing to all parts - who'd be a bowler when faced with that! He went from about 80 to 96 in one over. I know this because Joey shouted out he was on 96. No pressure then Tarun!

No worries, the next ball flew to the cover boundary and a great landmark event for any young cricketer was reached. He was promptly well-caught on the boundary but carried over by the unfortunate Lewes player. A few more bangs and wallops before he was eventually castled for a magnificent 126. That allowed a great little cameo from Joe D of 10 not out and Archie finished a valuable innings on 11 not.

Half-Time. Tea. Confident lads. We had a little chat. Short boundaries I said. We'll go for a few but keep your nerve. And over the next couple of hours that was exactly what they did.

Scott again bowled beautifully and picked up the first two wickets, and he wasn't finished yet. The going got hard as Lewes batted brilliantly to put us under real pressure. We needed a wicket. Fast. Luke, the man for a crisis. Two days running he removes the dangerman with a great delivery that pitched and moved away to clip off stump. No soft dismissal there, skill of the highest order under pressure.

Still the runs flowed. All these Lewes players could bat. No long tail here. There opener, Fred, scored freely and was well supported by the middle order. Some of our fielding could have been better, although Connor and Ollie both pulled off fine boundaty stops. Joey picked up a deserved wicket, and Joe K kept his head well to run out the next player. Scott came back and his determination and effort were rewarded with the wicket of Fred, superbly caught by Hugo running back to a top-edged full toss. Spare a thought for Fred, a magnificent knock just 4 shy of a deserved hundred.

Still the match ebbed and flowed, a fresh batch of boundaries bringing the hosts back into it. Connor had suffered earlier on, same as all the bowlers, but came back for a vital LBW, then Luke returned to bowl the Lewes number 9, Joe D then bowled two great overs for three runs and took the ninth wicket, well caught by Scott at short mid-wicket. Cue ecstatic celebrations!

Last wicket. Who's to bowl? Tarun of course. Truth is, he hadn't bowled that well which isn't surprising after his earlier efforts, but the stage was set for him to finish it off, which he duly did, cleaning bowling the last man.

Cue even more ecstatic celebration, and handshakes with the valiant Lewes team.

A match to remember for sure, and well done to all the players on both sides for making it so.

Man of the match? Tarun - what a performance!