Under forbidding Easton skies and with rain forecast, E&MWCC U9 took on a visiting Sparsholt CC U9 side in front of a good sized crowd. A depleted Sparsholt side were bolstered by Harry S, Jonty and Charlie, all of whom rose to the task with grace and enthusiasm.
Sparsholt were put into bat with Callum and George bowling the opening spell from the pavilion end. Some well taken singles and a couple of boundaries got Sparsholt off to a strong start only to be thwarted by a well deserved wicket for George (the Sparsholt opener playing around a good length delivery).
Michael and Alfie followed with two tight overs limiting the visitors to 218 off the opening 4 overs.
James G and Jake took on the new batting pair who played some stylish shots; often the best deliveries being dispatched for runs. Jake found some turn taking the ball away from the right-hander and was, ultimately, rewarded with a wicket. Some over enthusiastic Easton fielding lead to some unnecessary overthrows but this was quickly forgotten when a hesitant single was pounced on by Callum who launched a wicket-bound torpedo to the non-striker's end taking the run-out with great skill (225 off 6 overs).
There was no respite for the Sparsholt pair who were then tied down by Felix and Noah; the latter’s pace and accuracy perfectly complementing Felix’s flight and variation (236 off 8). A returning Callum and George similarly stifled the Sparsholt batsmen; Callum one no-ball off a maiden and George unlucky to be hit for a boundary off a decent ball in a dot ball over. Michael, arguably the seasons most improved player, bowled a tight line on his return and Jake bagged another Sparsholt scalp before Noah wrapped up the Sparsholt innings with tidy final over. The visitors posted a respectable and very defendable score of 281 off 16 overs.

George and James opened the E&MW CC batting. Having carefully played the Sparsholt bowling in the first couple of overs both batsmen began playing some more expansive shots. George, in particular, playing some aggressive strokes both straight and square of the wicket for four. The pair guided E&MWCC to 220 off the first 4 overs. Noah and Felix followed to the crease. A combination of good and wayward bowling made it difficult to get the ball off the square but some classic stroke-play and excellent running between the wickets kept the scoreboard ticking over. E&MWCC reaching 243 off 8 overs; 39 runs to win off 48 balls.
Next up, Alfie and Jake with a gentle drizzle to accompany them. The pair got off to a terrible start; both being bowled in the first three balls faced. Suddenly 49 runs off 46 balls required and the tension both in the crowd and coaching staff was palpable. The deficit was rapidly made up with Alfie hitting 3 boundaries in quick succession the pick being a beautifully timed on drive. The pair added to the total through bat, bye and boundary ending their 4 overs having added 20 runs.
As Callum and Michael took to the crease 19 was required off 24 balls with two of the stronger bowlers returning. A pull for 4 from Callum at the end of their first over relieved some of the pressure as the pair became ever more extravagant in their running between the wicket. With the crowd on the edges of their seats, the target was eventually reached with a straight drive from Callum with just under an over remaining. This, however, didn’t dampen the pairs’ enthusiasm and they went on to amass 37 runs in the final stand (including two ramp shots) finishing E&MWCC’s innings on 295. A truly thrilling encounter and a well deserved win for E&MWCC.

E&MW CC U9s beat Sparsholt CC U9s by 14 runs

E&MWCC Man of the Match: Callum (guiding the team home with confidence and no little drama)

Special mention to Harry S, Charlie and Jonty who kept the fixture alive and played well throughout.

Dave Hartwright