U10 NECSC Zone B v Purley [Sutton win by 61 runs]
Sutton 325 for 0; Purley 264 for 6
Smash and Grab!
The U10s continued their unbeaten start to the league season with a good victory that ended up being a closer game than we thought possible at halfway, which is a credit to the fighting spirit of the opposition. Nevertheless, given the relative inexperience of our side this result again underlined what strength in depth we have at the younger age-groups.
Batting first for a change Sutton compiled a season high 325 for no loss. The bowling attack was not the strongest the boys will ever face but to bat with such discipline and power was still a majestic effort. I cannot recall a match with this age-group where no wicket has fallen in an innings. Rehan and debutant Sai Patel gave us our customary solid start, seeing off the Purley opening bowlers and adding 10 important runs. Sai in particular reined in his more natural cavalier instincts to bat with controlled aggression (well, most of the time!), watched and advised by the old-hand at the other end. That platform allowed Lekan to punish the Purley pacemen with a quick-fire 20 n/o in a partnership of 33 with Marcus, striking 4 fours and farming the strike old-school style. Sam G and Harrison kept up the momentum in mid innings adding an important 22 with Slugger Sam and Ayrton doing much the same with chanceless 25. That left the stage open for the return of The Deckchair as Matthew struck a powerful 24 n/o including 4 fours as he saved his legs as usual. Steady Freddie
Boys supported Matthew well as the last pair added 35 to take us well past 300. Valiant.
After a well deserved break and lashings of juice much needed in the heat, Suttons bowlers began well taking Purley to 188 at one point, before Purley struck back bravely with their big hitting final pairs adding 56 to take them to a respectable 264. Our later bowlers struggled a little to come to terms with an over-length pitch, and despite advice to overstep they predictably found it hard to do so so resulting in a lot of wides and long hops which the Purley batsmen took full advantage of. Mr Reliable Mannion bowled his usual tight spell that yielded 2 for 0, with Sai, Freddie and Rehan chipping in with a wicket apiece. Our fielding stood up well under pressure towards the end, with Sam G showing his goalkeeping skills with some great diving stops (right in front of the assembled ranks of Griffins just for good measure), Harrison took a cracking catch, Matthew two good stumpings, and Freddie caught one and juggled another behind the stumps, the ball striking virtually every part of his anatomy before he coolly ran out their big hitter off the last ball.
The fielding highlight though was Lekan's one-handed take in the covers off Sam. He has the unerring knack of making everything he does in the field appear effortless as he moved serenely and smoothly to grab the ball out of the air in slo-mo. Just too cool!
Make no mistake this was good win and sees us out in front in Zone B on 14 points with 4 teams back on 10 each. We play one of them, Banstead next up, and that will be another fine test for these boys, who are not only winning games but doing so with a smile on their faces. We have lost only 7 wickets in 3 completed league games this season, our fielding is starting to look tight and if we can bowl with a little more control and limit the no balls and wides we need fear no-one in this league. There is always work to do but there is no doubt this squad of players is developing well.
Bob Jordan
