A series of “firsts” to celebrate as juniors deliver record-breaking performances
A brilliant 48 hours for Croft’s junior section, which included victories for the U9s (x3), U10s, U13s and U14s, will live long in the memory following 3 incredible performances from the club’s future stars.
Matt Croal started off the record-breaking, delivering Croft’s first 5-wicket haul at junior level, taking 5-9 from 4 overs against Ombersley B U14s. Leg-spinner Croal, playing a year up from his usual U13 age-group, had the Ombersley batsmen in a state of permanent confusion as his combination of flight and turn proved impossible to play. Croal picked up two early wickets thanks to good catches by Ben Bryant and Henry Jinks before combining with wicketkeeper Oscar Jinks to add two stumpings to his wicket haul. In his fourth over, he completed his five-wicket performance by bowling his final victim before almost picking up a sixth wicket with a sharp caught & bowled chance.
The following evening saw the first hat trick to be recorded by a Croft junior player with swing bowler Louis Griffiths knocking down the stumps with 3 successive balls against Belbroughton U13s. Opening bowler Griffiths, having picked up a wicket in his first over, returned to bamboozle the visiting batsmen with 3 wickets in the first 3 balls of his second over as he finished with figures of 4-9 from his 2 overs. Griffiths’, who has played for Croft since the age of 8, fully deserved the plaudits as he continued the development he has shown over the last few years with a perfect display of controlled pace bowling. Bobby Riley also came close to matching the 5-wicket haul recorded the previous day as he picked up 4-20 from his 3 overs.
These bowling heroics capped a comfortable 66 run victory for Croft’s U13s, but the groundwork for the win had been delivered earlier in the evening as Matt Athey smashed the highest score recorded by a Croft junior in a pairs game. Athey hit 37 from 14 balls, a knock which included seven fours, as he pulled Croft from a balanced position into one of real strength, setting up the bowling unit to bring home the victory.
Match Report by Paul Athey, 21/05/09
For full scorecard details of the matches, use the below button to be directed to the club results page, hosted by Play Cricket.
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