Nail-Bitingly Close Match for the 3rd XI

The day started in our newly refurbished pavilion - Thank you, Fame Services for completing the works & the ECB County Grants Fund for Creating Welcoming Environments for supporting the project.

We had three father and son pairs in the team, which included a debut for Matti Smith, our U11 coach. Captain, Mike Cox, finally won a toss this season and elected to have a bat first. Darren Spooner and Darren Ridout opened for us, and started well by getting through to the 9th over before Darren Ridout (4) fell. This started a mini collapse with Jack Birch, Michael Edwards and Jasper Spooner failing to get going. Noah Marriott (2) steadied the ship, playing with a straight bat and putting into to affect his hard work in the nets, before he also fell bringing in Ian Hampshire to partner Darren. Unfortunately, that partnership didn't last long as Darren fell for 38, bringing Matt Hampshire to the crease to partner his dad! The two lasted some time in the middle, in which time Ian hit some lovely sixes and put the ball finding skills of the spectators to the test. Matt fell for 4, but had played some good shots and spent some valuable time at the crease. Charlie Birch (8), playing for the first time in the 3rds with his son Jack, was next in. Charlie hit a couple of good fours before his achilles gave out and forced him to retire hurt. Mike Cox (8) took his place as batsman number 10, and, with Ian, gave us a four over cameo in which the score was taken to a useful 140-7. Ian finishing not out on 58, including three sixes and six fours!

After tea, it was our turn to field and with Charlie out we were allowed a sub-fielder. Hayden kindly offered to assist, therefore introducing a further father son pairing. Young Matt Hampshire opened and started with a very good spell of 5 overs 0-15. Matt was partnered by Jack Birch (5 overs, 1-24), who was unlucky not to have a wicket as their number 2 was dropped behind the stumps. He eventually struck in his 4th over to remove their opener and Captain courtesy of a catch from our sub fielder! The next pair of bowlers was Michael Edwards and Noah Marriott. In his first spell, Mike was luckless despite bowling very tightly, but Noah (5 overs, 1-24) did get their number 3 clean bowled. Next up was a Spooner pairing of young Jasper and his dad, Darren. Jasper bowled 7 overs straight through and had the batsman at odds and, at times, struggling to get the ball away. Thanks to a great display of sweeping in the field from Jack, Jasper ended up with figures of 7 overs 0-28. Darren, at the other end, didn't manage to get a wicket but was very effective in lowering their run rate with 8 overs going for just 14 runs.
5 overs to go, 15 runs needed and 8 wickets in hand!!! The odds were in the visitor's favour.

Matt returned for a second spell of bowling, this time from the other end - over 1, 1 run scored. Mike also returned for a second spell and finally claimed their number 2 (54) courtesy of a diving catch from Ian! Over 2, 3 runs scored - so 3 overs left, 11 required.

Over 3 and Matt also strikes to bowl out the new batsmen off an inside edge. 1 run off the over, 2 overs to go, 10 required!

Over 4 from Michael, 3 runs. Michael ended with figures of 7 overs 1 for 23.

Last over, 7 required - nail bitingly close and the game was in the balance. Young Matt to bowl... 2 dots to start, followed by a wide and then 2 runs. Matt felt the pressure but composed himself and took a risk in bowling a slower ball, 1 run scored. Next ball, where a 4 would have won it for MHM, another good ball bowled and a single was ran. Final ball of the over and match, 2 to draw or 3 to win. They ran, but we got a run out - meaning we had won by 2 runs!!!

Amazing few final overs from Matt (8 overs, 1-22) and Michael with great temperament and yet another fantastic fielding display from this team!
To go from MHM requiring 15 off 5 overs with 8 wickets in hand to us winning by 2 runs was a great turnaround and a truly remarkable effort that shocked the opposition who were unbeaten so far this season.

Thank you Michael Cox, Darren Spooner and Ian Hampshire for the support and learning you passed on. It was good to see the spirit in the field even when we thought the game had got away from us. Well done all.

- Darren Ridout, 3rd XI Vice Captain