County Under 10: Last season
Wiltshire U10's Vs Gwent U10's - 29/07/07 - Newbridge CC
The Under 10's arrived at Newbridge cricket Club for a delayed start after overnight rain. The outfield was more than abit moist, but the wicket had been covered and looked reasonably dry. The boundary had to be brought in to avoid some muddy patches but all in all we were just happy to be playing cricket on what looked as though it maybe the first sunny day in weeks. James Gaunt, the Wiltshire Captain lost the toss and Wiltshire was asked to bat by the Gwent Skipper.
After the previous game the message from the Wiltshire Coach was for all the batsmen to be patient and learn to build an innings. Openers James Gaunt and Jack Twine followed the script, looking solid early on with Gaunt playing some nice shots but straight to fielders un fortunately. The partnership was broken with both openers being bowled. This brought together Josh White and Patrick Greishaber and again both boys were patient early but as his confidence grew Patrick Greishaber started to play attractive flowing shots. Josh White was able to stick with his partner and hit his first County boundary off his 30th ball this seemed to be a turning point as he hit 4 more boundaries and Greishaber was doing the same from the other end. The partnership gained momentum and quickly past 50, we were all hoping for a 100 partnership but it all came to an end 14 runs short of this milestone when Josh White was caught for 34 off 65 balls. Patrick Greishaber continued to get a well deserved 50, although he was slowed by Gwent’s 9 year spinner Tom North who bowled 7 overs for just 22 runs (with 10 off his first over). Wickets continued to fall near the end and Wiltshire finished on 131 for 8 off there allotted 35 overs.
Gwent dominated early on with Gareth Ansell looking particularly strong and at the 10 over mark looked favourites at 44 for no wicket after just 10 overs. But Dominic Mackenzie and our own U9 spinner Josh Hodder took the crucial wickets of the two openers, both these bowlers kept it very tight Mackenzie going for just 7 runs off his 5 overs and Hodder taking 2 wickets for 3 runs off his 6 overs. With the excellent run out of Gwent’s No 3 by Euan Kenny and 2 more wickets for Hodder Gwent found themselves at 61 for 5 after 20 overs. Therefore losing 5 wickets for just 17 runs. It was all going Wiltshire’s way now and more excellent bowling by Kyle George 11 runs off 4 overs and two wickets and a very impressive debut from Jake Ayrton leaving him with figures of 3.1 overs 3 wickets for just 5 runs to finish off the Gwent reply on 82 all out.
A very satisfactory win to end to the first season of U10 cricket in Wiltshire, the sun shone at last and we were looked after wonderfully by Gwent.
Wiltshire cricket is sponsored by Surridge Sports
Wiltshire U10's Vs Dorset U10's - 17/06/07
Players and parents alike turned up promptly at the picturesque and historic venue of The Tidworth Garrison Ground for the first ever U10 fixture, all were very excited looking forward to the match.
The first ever U10 Wiltshire captain James Gaunt won the toss and confidently decided to bat to the excitement of all his team. Unfortunately the excitement was short-lived as the Dorset opening bowlers proved to be sharp and accurate with the catches offered by Wiltshire’s early batsman going to hand regularly. At 14 for 5 Wiltshire’s batting looked to be in tatters, but a bold partnership of 41 between Iestyn Williams (21) and Ollie Weaver (11) saved the innings and at 45 for 5 Wiltshire looked as though a target of 100 was possible. When Williams was bowled after an impressive first County innings Edward Wordsworth joined Weaver and took the score to 60 for 6 until Weaver fell and was followed by the unfortunate Wordsworth, bowled by a “dribbler”. The last four wickets then fell for just 6 runs.
Dorset showed the patience at the start of their innings that Wiltshire had lacked, but with just 8 runs coming from the first 5 overs and Wiltshire managing to capture a wicket the opening bowlers were doing well. Another wicket went down and Dorset were now 18 for 2 off 10 overs. At this stage Metcalfe (15) then joined opener Cook (30] and took the Innings on to the finish reaching the target of 67 at the end, for the loss of
3 wickets. The Dorset Innings had been patient and well constructed throughout and we hope the Wiltshire lads can learn from this for our next game against Gwent in July.
