Easton travelled to the Solent shoreline on Saturday to face Locks Heath IV in a key mid table clash. Locks Heath won the toss and asked Easton to bat with Martin Hall and Will Wickham back together as Easton's first choice openers. A hard new ball, bouncy track and rapid outfield reminded many of Australian conditions and took some adjustment. The openers coped well but with the score on 20 Will Wickham looking to steer a rising delivery down to third man succeeded in middling the ball straight into the hands of third slip.

Tom Duff joined Hall at the crease and looked at ease until he middled a loose ball straight into the hands of square leg and Easton lost their second wicket with the total on 42. Andrew Wickham and Martin Hall continued to move the score along but they were both caught (Hall making 35) and on a good run scoring surface Easton found themselves 62 for 4.

Pete Duff and Ben Cholerton look to reset the Easton innings through a combination of singles and boundaries - such was the pace of the outfield that any shoot that broke the cordon of fielders invariably resulted in a boundary. Pete made a rapid 32, including 7 boundaries and Ben matched him in that department and together they took the score onto 133 before Pete was the fifth batsman out (all caught).

Stuart Upcraft joined Ben in the middle and Cholerton continued to lead the charge, striking his 11th boundary to bring up his maiden senior half century, which was warmly applauded by both teams. Ben was finally bowled by spinner Gatt for 52 in the 29th over (of the 42 over match).

Cholerton's innings had enabled Easton to move to 154 for 6 and Easton certainly felt back on track for a 200 plus score. The match however swung once more toward home side Locks Heath as Gatt dismissed both Will Upcraft and Charlie Freemantle in the same over to leave Easton on 154 for 8 and someway short of an acceptable total.

Opening bowler Sky Mitchell joined Upcraft senior at the crease as Easton looked to both preserve wickets and push the scoreboard along. Mitchell, not to be outdone by Cholerton (both 14 year olds) set about the Lock Heath bowling with a combination of solid defence and flamboyant attack - his dancing down the track to hit spinner Gatt back over his head for several boundaries will long be remembered. At the other end Upcraft kept the scoreboard ticking over with a couple of sixes and when Sky was bowled by the returning opening bowler he had made 42 and Easton had moved to 246 for 9 - a 92 run partnership.

Final batsman Hicks joined Upcraft (50 not out) to ensure Easton batted for the full 42 overs and the innings closed with Easton 250 for 9.

Locks Heath set about the run chase with relish and Easton realised that the softness of the old ball would mean that their opening attack of Sky Mitchell and Pete Duff would not enjoy the benefit of the extra bounce that Locks Heath openers had been able to exploit.
Nevertheless the Easton opening bowlers backed themselves and judicious field placement by Stuart Hicks and Martin Hall sought to limit the easy boundaries.

Sky Mitchell made the breakthrough having opener Keeley well caught by keeper Will Wickham and then the other opener caught by Hall.
Pete Duff was replaced by son Tom as Easton looked to introduce spin - a tactic that has secured most wickets this season for spin duo Tom Duff and Will Upcraft - despite the challenging surface.

Charlie Freemantle replaced Mitchell following the completion of his 5 overs and, like Mitchell picked up two key wickets, bagging batsmen four and five. Tom Duff tied down the batsmen and he too secured a couple of wickets for 41 runs, including an excellent caught and bowled.

Despite the steady fall of wickets the fast paced outfield ensured Locks Heath kept the scoreboard ticking over and when Will Upcraft became the fifth U15 bowler to enter the attack the game was far from won with the home side on 160 for 6 from 29 overs. The total moved onto 191 before Will Upcraft took two wickets in two overs, first removing Watson for 13 (the second catch for Hall) and then securing an LBW thanks to a strong appeal led by the ever vocal keeper Will Wickham.

Locks Heath were 202 for 8 off 36 overs and skipper Stuart Hicks brought himself into the attack bowling an indignant Gatt in his second over and then capturing the final wicket as top scorer Whale was caught by Will Upcraft at backward point - Easton had won by 36 runs.

This was Easton Academy's best win of the season to date and perhaps their finest victory since the establishment of the Academy team to promote our younger players. The six U15 Easton boys had contributed almost half the runs with the bat, 8 of the 10 wickets to fall, demonstrated maturity in the field beyond their years taking 4 catches, as well as leading and securing the LBW decision.