Rayleigh team: Joe P, Alex B, Adam B, Jamie C, Callum B, David W, Ben M-J, James B, Elliott D, Liam H, Adam F, Cameron M
This ended up being a 12-a-side game and boy, what a game!
Joe captained the side very intelligently. The aim was to win the game, but more importantly make sure every player either batted or bowled (at least one over).Joe was very conscious of this and worked out his bowlers well with advice from the acting manager for the day.
We lost the toss and were put into bat. Jamie and Adam B opened and took the score to double figures before Adam was brilliantly caught.
Callum was next in at three, and batted very straight. He hit a four and ran well between the wickets, eventually scoring nine, before being given out LBW (by his dad!). Thankfully he is still talking to aforementioned father.
Jamie batted very well and confidently, certainly not overawed by the opener role. He was eventually run out for 10 but had scored at a good rate and kept the scoreboard ticking over, making way for the big hitters Joe and Alex.
These two pushed the score on with Alex almost clearing the boundary with a straight drive. One bounce, one inch inside the rope. Such are the eventual margins between winning and losing.
And then in the last over they entertained us to a bit of comedy running between the wickets from the last two balls. Joe was run out off the last ball for 11, Alex unbeaten on 16. The target at the start was 100, but 96 was a pretty satisfying total.
Adam F and James opened the bowling and kept it tight. James bowling the opener leg stump around his pads. Elliott was first change and had one good over and one not so good, but he, like Ben and David, are improving their cricket all the time. Ben bowled a decent over, David came on and got a wicket, before the wides column was put to good use – a good effort in the middle of the innings from these three young lads, although Old Southends were back up with the run rate.
Liam had three overs near the end, Joe and Alex, strong bowlers both, were happy to let others have a go and bowl near the death.
And so it was that OS needed four to win off the last over.
First ball from Alex was a no-ball. Three wanted, still off six balls.
Next ball and a throw from Ben directly hit the stumps running out the batsman.
Second ball, huge appeal, plumb LBW, OS nerves were setting in. Three needed off four balls.
Ball number 3: timbers flying, clean bowled by Alex. Tense stuff.
Dot ball, then a single.
And so it came to the last ball with two needed to win. A cut to backward point saw OS clamber home by the smallest of margins. A very gallant effort by every Rayleigh player who can be proud of their own individual performance and their contribution to a great team effort. As mentioned earlier one inch further, a six instead of a four, and the result would have been completely different. Such are the margins between victory and defeat.
Well played both teams.
Rayleigh U13B: 96 for 4 (20 overs)
Old Southendians U13B: 97 for 7 (20 overs)
Old Southendians win by 3 wickets (off last ball of match)