SCC Colts News!

U10 NECSC Zone B v Tadworth  [Sutton win by 52 runs]  

Tadworth 219 for 4; Sutton 271 for 4.  

A Bit Of A Sticky Wicket!  

Sutton U10s continued their unbeaten league season with a relatively scratchy and lacklustre win over a determined Tadworth side. Overnight rain had left the Holmwood square as slippery as two eels fighting in a bucket of jelly, but we managed to get the match on - even deploying sawdust on the run-ups and evoking memories of test matches in the early 70's and 'Deadly' Derek Underwood turning over all comers in the era of uncovered wickets.  

After calling right but losing our coin in mud during the toss, Sutton put Tadworth into bat, minus one of their players who had lost his front teeth the previous evening. Sutton bowlers struggled to come to terms with the heavy ball and the damp pitch, if anything, favoured the batsmen.  Although Tadworth never really scored freely, we only took four of their wickets (we averaged 8 per game prior to this) enabling them to reach a respectable 235, reduced to 219 by way of a 16 run penalty for being a batsman (and 2 teeth) short.    

Leggies Blake and Jordan picked up a wicket apiece, the latter courtesy of a fantastic diving catch by HNS in the covers. Harry also bowled a mean spell of medium pace and was ably supported by Buzz Ratna and Steady Freddie.  Despite 2 more run outs our fielding was decidedly average, partly due to the conditions but also because we were a little off the pace and coasted at times in the field. Some lazy throwing and sluggish movement let Tadworth batsmen off the hook too many times when they were chasing the game and led to far too many vocals from the home umpire frustrated throughout by fielders who at times moved with all the urgency of a sloth on Valium. Must improve; let us hope that's our bad one out of the way.    

Our response with the bat was competent and efficient rather than swashbuckling and destructive. Sort of Stuart Downing rather than the Christiano Ronaldo of last week. Buzz and Steady got us off to a great start hitting 26 at first pair with Fred playing his best ever U10 innings in crafting a lovely 17no including three 4s. Fred has now played 8 innings at U10 without giving his wicket away and has started scoring freely now based on great shot selection. More please. Harry and Ethan added a further 17 to put us in good shape before Patrick and Lekan lumbered out to the wicket at pair 4, mumbling occasionally to one another and raising hopes that they might, just, maybe get a little teeny weeny bit excited at the prospect of smacking the mud ball around. But no, they continued to try to "out-miserable" each other although in the process compiled another good partnership of 30, with Lekan contributing 19 of those including three 4s. Great stuff. Maybe they're saving the excited celebrations and smiles for bigger games to come.Too right boys, calm down!   

Sutton lost a couple of late wickets to restrict us to 271 and a 52 run victory.  

Its fair to say we have been a little spoilt by this team this season which perhaps led us to think this an ordinary sort of win. In anyone else's books it would be considered a comprehensive and dominant victory but we have set ourselves high standards which we did not quite reach here. Let's put it down to the slippery conditions and a heavy ball and hope that in next weeks showdown decider with Old Whits we will resume normal service and blast our way to the final on August 30. We can do it if we are anywhere near our best, and this squad of boys deserves it's day on the big stage. The stage deserves them too.  

CCC'MMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOONNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Bob