Excellent all-round performance seals last win
Avoncroft Under 11s continued their 100% start to the season with a comfortable win against Alvechurch on Sunday.
Having been asked to bat first, Croft got off to a flyer with openers Harvey Shaw and Ben Huxley racing out of the blocks. Shaw played the role as the early aggressor, mixing positive shorts with plenty of intent in his running between the wickets. Not to be outdone, Huxley played his part – his trademark pull being used to good effect – and it was Huxley who was the first to reach his retirement score as he finished on 33* almost exclusively scored from boundaries. Shaw followed shortly after, retiring on 30* including four 4s and a towering 6 over square leg. At the halfway stage, Croft were motoring along at nearly 90 for no wicket. Liam Livesey (13) and Bobby Riley (5) continued the momentum before Alvechurch removed both the middle-order batsmen, getting some reward for their continued effort in the field. The wickets didn’t stem the tide of runs however, as Ben Athey (10*) and Joe Neeson (8*) keep going right to the close, taking Croft to 161-2 from their 20 overs.
The result was never in doubt from the moment that Joe Neeson consolidated his excellent all-round performance with two wickets in his first over; one thanks to a one-handed “goalkeeper-style” catch by Ben Athey. Wickets continued to fall at a steady rate, with only Malachy Evans (11) holding things together for Alvechurch. He was finally undone by an outswinger from 9 year old Callum Hooper, making his hardball debut, who proceeded to finish with the impressive figures for 2 overs, 2 maidens, 2 wickets for no runs. All the Croft bowlers stuck to the task and Alvechurch were eventually bowled out for 53 in the 14th over with Ben Athey, Ben Huxley, Liam Livesey and Oliver White also picking up wickets.
Match Report by Paul Athey, 28/06/18
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