'Under 10s knocked out

North Midd were knocked out of the Gubby Allen by Wilf Slack between the showers on Sunday morning.  Wilf Slack elected to bat first.  Unfortunately our bowling was far more wayward than usual and we conceded 40 runs to wides and no balls.  Only 4 wickets were taken (Joseph 2; Luke and Alex 1 each) with Wilf Slack posting a challenging but gettable net total of 257.

Our early batsmen struggled for runs against some mixed bowling.  At the half way mark we were on net 218.  Then some aggressive batting from Nicholas, Miles and Percy kept us in the hunt.  8 off the 10th over and 11 off the 11th left us needing 13 to win off the last over.  To his credit the bowler kept his nerve and bowled straight - only 2 runs scored and 2 wickets lost.  We finished with a net 238 having lost 7 wickets in all.  Wilf Slack contributed 19 extras compared with our total of 40.

This team has great promise but on the day we didn't play to our potential - too many wides and some poor shot selection.  Most of our team will be eligible to play in this Competition next year - so expect great things then.

Instead of playing in the Gubby Allen play offs on 20th July we will now compete in an all day Festival at Harrow School - more details to follow soon.  We are also entered in the Edmonton U10 Festival on Wednesday 6th August but will need to organise parental help because Richard won't be able to do that one'

Best

Richard

'North Midd progress in Gubby Allen U10 Cup with fine team performance

Some high quality batting and mature running between the wickets provided the base for a convincing win against Hotwhites Trinibis on 15th June.

After being put in to bat North Midd piled on the runs.  Each pair contributed.  Scores from the allotted 3 overs per pair -

Ivan and Alex J-E - 18 (excellent steady start with some good shots and well judged running)

Luke and Oli - 38  (24 from a supercharged Luke which included 3 fours and a six - Oli did his bit)

Ethan and Georgie - 22 (14 from Ethan with 5 from Georgie who dropped his bat in the excitement)

Miles and Percy - 28 (10 from Miles and 12 very classy runs from Percy)

Total score 306 with NO wickets lost.  This is the best we have batted so far by a distance.

Quickly became clear that Holtwhites were not going to challenge our score. We took 3 wickets (one each for Ethan, Alex and Percy) and bowled only 5 wides.  The total net reply was 223 so North Midd won by 83 runs.

As well as excellent batting and tight bowling the pleasing thing was the way we started to play as a team.  There was lots of support and we started to look organised in the field.  Miles set and changed his field with no help from me.  All in all a very positive morning's work.

On to the East Area Semi - opposition not yet known.  If we were to win that we would progress to the County play off day on Sunday 20th July at 10.30 am.

This will involve 2 Groups of 4 teams (2 from each Middlesex Region) playing each other on a round robin basis.  The winners of the 2 Groups who will go forward to the Final at Lords on Saturday 2nd August.'

Report : Richard Nicoll

'Wanstead v NMCC 8th June

Another thrilling last over finish but this time the Midd were just pipped at the post.

Playing a conventional format the Midd elected to bat first.  After some early wickets Ethan steadied the ship with a mature 27 not out.  Others struggled against inconsistent but occasionally impressive bowling with no one else making double figures.  Over 24 wides and no balls boosted our total to 111 (Nelson's score) off 20 overs.

Our bowling was equally inconsistent with 20 plus wides and no balls. Wicket takers were Alex Jessop-Emmins (2), Ethan (1), Oli (2), Alex Harris and Ben Hains (1 each).  Wanstead ended needing 3 off the last over.  Oli took a wicket with his first ball but this brought back a retired batsman who hit the winning rins with 3 balls left.

A tight game at a great venue on a lovely sunny morning.  Lots to work on with our batting, running between the wickets, bowling and fielding.'

Report Richard Nicoll

Heading - 'Remarkable Finish - North Midd U10 needing 9 off last ball win game!

'Hampstead batted first in Round 1 of the Under 10 knockout cup and played some fine shots.  However tight bowling from North Midd restricted the score to a challengiing but gettable 238 (net).  Four wickets fell - 2 taken by Luke; 1 each by Ivan and Alex.  Ethan took a great catch in the slips off Luke.  Miles kept wicket very well conceding only 2 byes.

The North Midd innings started steadily with Ivan and Alex not losing a wicket.  Rico and Luke were next in and played some fine attacking shots but then let themselves and the team down with 2 silly run outs.  James and Georgie struggled against some good bowling  but kept going only losing 1 wicket plus another silly run out.

North Midd's last pair were Miles and Ethan and from the off Miles went after the bowling with around 20 runs. A couple of cut and thrust overs followed with 2 wickets lost but with 4s being hit.  North Midd were left needing 12 off the last over to overhaul Hampstead's score.  Disaster - a brilliant diving catch off an Ethan cut increased the required total to 17. Worse was to follow with Miles being caught next ball leaving the Midd to score an apparently impossible 22 off 4 balls but Miles had clearly been to the Emirates to hear Springsteen sing  'No Surrender' -

"..Blood brothers in the stormy night with a vow to defend

No retreat, baby, no surrender"

A no ball and some hard hitting from Miles left the Midd needing 9 to win off the last ball - impossible unless the bowler bowled a no ball.  Guess what - down came a high full toss (undisputed no ball) which Miles pulled for 4.  We had agreed previously that no balls would count 2 in the last over so 6 were scored leaving 3 needed off the 'extra' last ball.  To his credit the bowler gathered himself and delivered a ball of decent line and length.  With Miles in this form it wasn't good enough. With the best shot of the game Miles smashed it through extra cover - victory snatched from the jaws of defeat an extraordinary last gasp win. Hampstead were gutted and North Midd danced a jig - and that was just the Parents!

Great team spirit shown  throughout.  Man of the Match was unquestionably Miles for smashing 31 (net 21) in his 3 overs under the most extreme pressure, also for his captaincy and wicket keeping.

In the next round the Midd will play either Old Elizabethans or Holt White Trinibis.  Will post more news on this fixture soon.

Match Report :Richard Nicoll

'Under 10 Match v Wanstead Sunday 11th May

Off to a winning start beating Wanstead in a Pairs Game by 32 runs.  Under this format the teams start with 200 runs.  Runs and extras are added and 5 runs are deducted for every wicket lost.  Each pair bats for 3 overs - everyone gets a bat and a bowl.  Batting first North Midd made a net total of 300 losing only one wicket.  The three top scorers were Luke, Timon and Rico but others did their bit for the team by defending some decent deliveries amongst the many wides and no balls.

North Midd's bowling was much tighter.  We still gave away far too many extras but our wide total was only about two thirds of Wanstead's.  Wicket takers were Rico,Oliver and Liam.

We have a long way to go with our fielding but there was one great catch for Charlie and a super return from Rico to produce a run out.'

Report: Richard Nicoll