County Under 17 Results
Wiltshire Cricket Board U17 v Buckinghamshire Cricket Board U17 at Milton Keynes
New this year was the play-off between winning county teams and the minibus was again pressed into action for a 2 day game at Campbell Park Milton Keynes.
The team arrived after an early start to gentle rain but very impressive covers at this quality ground. After a frustrating few hours and an early lunch, play was abandoned for the day which allowed the team to investigate the delights of Milton Keynes, the indoor ski slope and sky diving facility proving most popular.
The 60 over one day rules applied the following day and Wilts were invited to bat. Owain Phillips (21) got off to a flying start before falling to a catch on the boundary. Steve Bullen (53) anchored the innings (or was it Jon Sore with 2 off 38 balls!)
Uzi the Captain failed to trouble the scorers – not his year – but Owen Alsop (54) played the main role with some powerful hitting, only to be adjudged LBW when in his stride!
Ben Upton (35 n.o.) proved again was a useful player he is, and after the allotted 60 overs Wilts were 208/6.
Buckinghamshire fancied their chances, however 4 wickets from Dom Webb for 34 runs, including a tremendous return run out throw from Dom as the batman pushed a forward defensive shot! - 1/9 from Ed Roffe, and then surprise, surprise, Imraj Heer taking 4 for 34 drove the final nails into the Buckinghamshire coffin. Immy’s contribution had the Bucks coach head in hands as a number of their batsmen played some ridiculous shots under the tense conditions.
Bucks were all out for 129 off 46.4 overs and Wiltshire were champions again! – just how much better does it get – well done to all the players for a tremendous season.
Wiltshire Cricket Board U17 v I.O.W. Cricket Board U17 at Newclose CC IOW
This match was the big 2 night extravaganza abroad for the team!
Day one and the sun shone over the very impressive Newclose cricket ground near Newport. This was the best facility that we had used this year complete with multi-million pound clubhouse and huge electronic scoreboard – all was set for a great 2 day contest……..
IOW won the toss and elected to bat. Wiltshire bowled tightly all day and the IOW used their usual tactic of defensive play and the runs might come….slowly. After 77.4 overs the IOW were all out for a meagre 174 and Wilts were confident that score could be overhauled without too much difficulty. Dom Webb, Owen Alsop and Shaun Dixon did most of the work, although it was a good all round team performance to limit the score to 174.
No hurry for this one, just play out the remaining 24 overs tonight, and finish them off by lunch tomorrow!
Jon Sore and Sam Pittman opened the innings, some nice steady play before Sam was dismissed for 10, followed by Steve Bullen on a short suicide mission caught for 3, before Luke Edwards finished on 26 not out, altogether a very satisfactory day!
Overnight Wilts were 58 for 2, what could possibly go wrong?
Rain during the night of thunderstorm proportions and a strong wind, unnoticed as the team slept soundly in their Shanklin beds, indeed unaware that anything was wrong until arriving at the ground where a large gathering in the centre revealed a rain soaked wicket, at both ends!
On a slightly sloping ground, heavy rain had crept under the covers and Wiltshire spent a frustrating morning awaiting a miracle. Gradually the wicket dried to an extent that the umpires agreed to make a start after lunch, although there was much doubt around the ground. Sure enough, as Dom Webb settled into his delivery stride, his front foot slipped and he was lucky that he didn’t injure himself as he careered along the ground.
Immediately play was abandoned for the day and Wiltshire made an early departure for the ferry, most frustrated that they could not wrap this one up as deserved.
That match marked the end of the ECB U17 County Championship – Division 4B, and with just the one defeat to Dorset, Wiltshire deservedly won the league! Well done to all for a pretty solid all round performance…….
The prize for each division winning team was a play-off match with the winners of the adjacent division, in our case Buckinhamshire at Milton Keynes.
Wiltshire Cricket Board U17 v Dorset Cricket Board U 17 at Warminster CC
With the first day washed out and more rain overnight, luckily a combination of sun and strong breeze allowed play to start at 2pm on Thursday. The match was to be 41 overs each. Wiltshire were put in and several times seem to have mastered the conditions, only for wickets to fall, due to some canny bowling matched by excellent catches, with Matt Thomas' in the first over being quite brilliant, diving low to his right in the slips to get rid of opener Quereshi off left armer Leigh Dunham. Luke Edwards (30) seemed in control until caught by Steve Birrell off Aaron Kendrick. Jack Haines (24) unleashed some lusty blows. The star turn with the ball was 15 year old Rory Triniman, whose medium pace brought him an excellent haul of 5 for 33. A final wicket flourish added 23, but Wiltshire would have hoped for more than 164. Dorset in reply were 90 for 5 until Steve Birrell (28),happy with his 3 catches, was promoted to add some zing. However, Robbie Gunn (40* from 39) produced the innings of the day, seeing Dorset safely home.
Overall a poor match for the Wilts side, who had every opportunity to win this one. If nothing else, they all learned a “what not to do “ lesson, a low water mark for the season.
Wiltshire Cricket Board - Under 17 vs Gwent - Under 17 at Purton C.C.
On a very cold blustery day at Purton, Wiltshire won the toss and asked Gwent to bat. 15 years ago when I started Coaching Wiltshire, Gwent were competitive opposition, and it’s a reminder of how far we have come as a county that today they were less so. Apart from some brief resistance from C. Miles (26) Gwent were all out for 124 in 49 overs. Harrison, Webb and Jack Haines took 3 wickets each, ably supported by Roffe, and Brown.
As the weather got colder and darker Wiltshire lost the wickets of Mike Reynolds and Sam Pittman, but the greater experience of Bullen and Edwards saw Wiltshire home as both racked up 50s. A good win under the circumstances but a greater test will be seen in Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire Cricket Board - Under 17 vs Wiltshire Cricket Board - Under 17 at Oxford Downs C.C.
The rain did its best to dampen everyone’s enthusiasm at the impressive Oxford Downs Cricket Club. Fortunately after a huge lunch, and two Sweets, the sun came out. Wiltshire were invited to bat on a surface that had been covered well. After the initial shock of losing Uzi, and later John Sore, a partnership of some substance was put together by Luke Edwards and Steve Bullen. At close of play Wilshire were 108-2 and keen to push on the following morning.
On day two in bright sunshine, the conditions were perfect for batting. Steve Bullen really cut loose and treated everyone to a superb innings of 124. Despite 11 fours and 3 huge sixes, there were no broken windows this year!!! Edwards supported him well with 39 but it was a disappointment when the Wiltshire innings faded away to 260 all out with some soft dismissals on display.
Oxfordshire had 61 overs to get the winning runs, but soon were in trouble as Dom Webb and Nick Harrison ripped through the top order. There was little place to hide as Owen Alsop took over, bowling well for his 3 wickets. It’s pretty evident that there is some depth in our bowling resources this year and even a below par score of 260 was well defended as Oxfordshire were skittled out for 179. Their batting was saved by a solid all round performance from Tom Geeson –Brown.
Wiltshire Cricket Board - Under 17 vs Cornwall Cricket Board - Under 17 at Trowbridge C.C. (ECB County Championship group 4b)
On a damp overcast morning, Cornwall won the toss and elected to bat on a well prepared wicket. Wiltshire’s impressive new ball attack of Dom Webb and Nick Harrison bowled very well, ably supported by Dean Williamson and 15 year old Craig Miles who had Cornwall reeling at 96-5 at lunch. After lunch it was a different story as the Cornwall Batsmen found the older ball much easier to combat, and Paul Smith batting at 6 put together an impressive century ably supported by Jake Libby. It took some good catching and impressive leg spin bowling from Brad Dawson to break the partnership, and Wiltshire finished Cornwall off for 239. In fairness this was a decent effort considering Cornwall had won the toss. However drama was to follow.
As with the first innings the new ball proved crucial with Cornwall ripping through the Wiltshire top order. At 5-4 Wiltshire looked to be in all sorts of trouble until the ever improving Sam Pittman joined Owen Alsop at the crease. Pittman initially counter attacked and played some sensible cricket before falling for a well compiled 30, which was a great effort under the circumstances. At 62-5 Craig Miles then joined Alsop, and the pair put on a superb 136 run partnership which was dominated by some wonderful straight hitting from Miles. Cornwall were given some hope by the dismissal of Miles for 74 but Alsop kept going scoring a chanceless 115 to see Wiltshire home to a first innings win.
With 2 hours left of play Cornwall batted again and reached 153-4 at the close, with Dom Webb bowling a fiery spell. Brad Dawson finished with 4 fine catches at first slip. A great start to our championship season.
Gloucestershire Cricket Board - Under 17 vs Wiltshire Cricket Board - Under 17 at Thornbury C.C (ECB County Championship)
With the first days play being lost to weather, the game was reduced to a 60 over per side one day game. The Thornbury wicket was very damp and green and it was a surprise when Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat. In the first 30 overs it looked to have been a wise choice as the Wiltshire 4 pronged pace attack struggled to make any impact on a slow damp surface. With the introduction of Brad Dawson and Luke Edwards, all hell broke loose as wickets tumbled. Both spinners bowled beautifully and there was some fine fielding and catching to back them up as Gloucestershire were rumbled for 188 all out. Luke Edwards bowled his 12 overs for just 25 runs and took 3 wickets, Dawson 2-31. Out of the seamers, the skiddy action of Alsop did the damage taking 3 late wickets to finish off the Gloucestershire tail.
Any hope Gloucestershire had faded very quickly as Qureshi and Phillips started solidly on a wicket that was improving as the day went on. Phillips fell for a gutsy 24, but Bullen looked good from the start of his innings and did not fail to impress, except when he was involved in a horrendous run out with poor Uzi!! This gave Luke Edwards the chance for time at the crease batting at 4, and he made the very most of it. The way in which Edwards (48 no) and Bullen (59 no) finished off the job was most impressive, and Wiltshire won by 8 wickets. A resounding win in some testing conditions, testament to the team’s application and desire.
