Match report for Burgess Hill v Lewes Priory U12
Burgess Hill U12’s kept up their 100% record in the league with a nail biting 1 run victory over Lewes Priory at St Johns Park on Monday night, with just 2 balls to spare.
The visitors batted first and some solid bowling and fielding including a Tommy Barnes bowled wicket in the 5th over put the visitors on 13-1 and swung momentum the home team’s way.
However the visitors started to increase the run rate and reached 53-1 at the 10 over mark. Kyle Jones claimed a wicket in the 11th over caught by Ryan Goss and in the 14th over Tommy took his 2nd wicket caught by Owen Larder to make it 86-3.
However a big score looked on the cards with 6 overs to spare and plenty of wickets in hand but the tide turned with a fine piece of fielding by Ryan to run out the Lewes Priory number 6 to get the 4th wicket.
From there the run rate slowed and Lewes Priory finished on 113-4.
The home team came off the field at the half way stage thinking that the run chase was too much for them. The need to keep positive and believe in themselves was the focus of the coaches team talk.
However the home team got off to the worst possible start after Owen Larder was caught first ball. On another day it would have gone to the boundary but credit to the Lewes fielder.
Freddie Cobham joined Alfie Lees in the middle and they quickly started to build a partnership. Positive running between the stumps and good shot selection pushed the total to 57 after 9 overs before Freddie was caught out trying to reach the boundary to retire and finished on 23. Alfie was joined by Kyle in the middle and the pair kept the momentum going. Alfie retired on 26 to make way for Ryan Goss. The spectators started to nervously look at the scoreboard as it looked too close to call. The home team reached 80 at the 14 over mark before Kyle was bowled out on 8.
Billy Reid came next to join Ryan and started positively with an early boundary as the pair kept the runs ticking along. However the visitors introduced. some pace into their attack to slow down Burgess Hill and with 3 overs left the home team needed 19 to win. Billy was dismissed for 13 runs and Ryan followed soon after caught out for 20. Aidan Baker took the game by the scruff of the neck with a fine boundary off his first ball to nudge Burgess Hill back into contention. Adam Parvin was bowled out and Ollie Bennett joined Aidan for the final over with 3 runs needed.
The crowd and players watched on anxiously as the first ball was a dot, followed by a single for Aidan. 2 more needed with 4 balls left! 3rd ball Ollie facing a bye! ……. Then in the 4th ball of the over Aidan nudged it through the gap and a quick dash between the stumps for the pair secured victory by 1 run with 2 balls to spare!!
Credit to both teams for a great game of cricket.