Sissinghurst Under 13’s v Tunbridge Wells Under 13’s – Hot Hot Hot!!
The lack of League cricket this season created a great opportunity for the SCC Under 13’s to test themselves against the mighty Tunbridge Wells Under 13’s. With Tunbridge Wells being Ranked Number 1 in the Invicta League and the SCC Under 13’s having won 21 of their 22 fixtures since June 2017 the fixture promised to be a great contest, it did not disappoint.
In the searing heat of Thursday evening, Tunbridge Wells won the toss and decided to bat. With Kent County players occupying the top three batting positions Tunbridge Wells got off to a blistering start. Anything short or wide was put away and despite Daniel Hammond forcing Webb to play on, both the Paice brothers retired on 33 and 31 respectively. In the heat and under the pump a lesser side may well have wilted but SCC Under 13’s are made of stronger stuff. The skipper, Henry Elliot, rotated his bowlers sensibly in the heat and persistent line and length began to pay dividends. Wickets for Arthur Elliot (a last minute replacement for a no show), Will Bligh and Daniel Hammond kept Tunbridge Wells pegged down. A late change saw Wilby Wood remove the dangerous Boorgula for 29 before two sharp pieces of fielding by Daniel Hammond and Matthew Rickford (playing his first game for the U13’s and keeping wicket admirably) reduced the visitors to 146-9. The brought the dangerous Paice back to the wicket however some great bowling by Henry Elliot trapped him LBW without further score. The SCC bowlers had worked well as a unit with Daniel Hammond the pick of the crop with figures of 4-0-3-16. The target of 147 to win had been set.
SCC began their innings with Tom Dyas and Aston Burford getting us off to a solid start putting on 45 for the first wicket. Tom Dyas looking set to retire at 30 was bowled by Wickes to a ball that kept low. With Henry Parton then flicking a ball to square leg without scoring and Aston Burford holing out shortly thereafter SCC had slipped to 49-3 at the end of the 11th over. Not for the first time the Elliot brothers steadied the ship. Both looked in great touch with Arthur making a belligerent 32 (retired) and Henry a smooth 13. With Daniel Hammond adding a further 9, SCC had moved to 110-5 at the end of the 20th over. With 37 still required, off the final five overs, the target seemed a rather tall order for SCC – enter one Will Bligh. Having recently made the Kent squad no challenge currently seems to big. He went at the Tunbridge Wells attack with great gusto and with able support from Messrs Littlestone and May moved to score to 141 at the end of the 24 over. One over to go and 6 runs required, it could not have been closer. A single from the second ball gave Will back the strike who proceeded to find the boundary with the third ball thereby levelling the scores at 146. It is also brought about his retirement for an unbeaten and match defining 30. However, it wasn’t over yet. With Wilby Wood finding himself stranded half way down the wicket, the one run was still required off two balls. Ed May with a simple push and run saw Matthew Rickford make his ground and the game was won with a ball to spare.
Tunbridge Wells arrived with a big reputation and according to their coach, the strongest side they could have put on the field. SCC Under 13’s can therefore take great pride in producing a performance of maturity under huge pressure. The group has an adage that no one is bigger than the team so we don’t give out man of the match awards. The collective effort created the opportunity to win against top quality opposition and many lessons will have been learnt. We just need to carry these through to the remaining three League fixtures and see if we can, once again, complete an unbeaten season. As a Coach I could ask no more of a great bunch of boys.
Simon Latham