Its No Fun To Play At the YMCA

Quarter Finals in the Cup, and we knew we were going to have to face this crack outfit at some stage if we were to lift some silverware. Possessing four Gloucestershire County age-group players including the wicket keeper as well as District representatives its no surprise they've been steam-rolling teams all over the county for the last couple of years. Going into the game however we were quietly confident, we knew if we could put them under some early pressure anything was possible. Although we lost the toss we got what we wanted and had a field . Harry and Joseph opened the attack, and applied early pressure, the County 11's captain only able to score 9 off 20 balls before being bowled by Joseph, Harry bowling with good rhythm and pace, his figures not doing him justice, a couple of wafts outside off finding the third man boundary. After Joseph bowled the next batsman Jamie Hickman and Charlie Carter entered the attack, both bowling very well in their opening overs: by the half way mark YMCA had only reached 34-2. After some smart thinking from Charlie to claim a run-out Harry pulled off a sublime piece of fielding , a direct hit from 30yds claiming their keeper who had just come to the crease. The guys kept plugging away, Jamie taking another one of their gun players, and Henry Winstone managed to get finger tips on a powerful strike down the ground to deflect onto the stumps for another run-out: anyone else would have been taken off for treatment to their throbbing fingers: not Henry, a brief grimace then on with the game :) 97-6 was their final score off 20, which included 31 extras, a score we would have happily taken at the start. Harry and Amber opened the batting, knowing the modest total should be obtainable if they batted sensibly, no need for any kamikaze running between the wickets:) Unfortunately this was quickly forgotten, Harry hitting straight to cover but sprinting down the wicket, leaving Amber high and dry. After George fell first ball to a catch at cover Joseph was next to the crease, fresh from a 31no. against this opposition at the weekend. After cutting through backward point for four he pulled one out of screws, only to be caught by a one-handed worldie at deep square leg, best catch I've seen all season. After Jake fell to another duck courtesy of one of their county boys Henry and Ollie Hosier found themselves in deep trouble at 27-5 from 7 overs. The two batted beautifully however, showing no signs of pressure, Henry playing his usual brand of straight forward aggressive cricket, scoring 3 boundaries in his 15 from 13, Ollie cutting and pulling beautifully, the pair reaching 43-5 by the end of the 9th over, Bedminster still in the game at this point. Henry was unluckily run-out after hitting straight to the mid-wicket fielder, and the collapse then ensued: in just two further overs the next five wickets fell, all from their arsenal of county players, including a hat-trick by one of their off-spinners. Bedminster were superb in the field, and while the top order were under-par with the bat there were many positives to take from the game, and sometimes you've just got to hold your hand up and acknowledge the opposition on the day were just too good. We go again against YMCA in the league on Monday.