Longparish Cricket Club

Sunday, 11th May 2008 - 9:45 am

Easton & Martyr Worthy: 107 for 6

Longparish Under 13's: 108 for 3

Match Report

Longparish under 13s travelled to the upper Itchen valley for their second game of the season; the cricket ground set in a bowl beyond the pub, the precise location foxing  parents, club vice chairman and colts coach alike, as they toured the village looking for any sign of a cricket ground. 

Longparish captain William de Cani lost the toss, and in bright sunshine and temperatures climbing to the mid seventies, was asked to field first.  Brad Aldridge and William Jackman, opened the Longparish attack and bowled well, restricting Easton to thirteen from the first four overs.  On the boundary the late start (11.30am) had caused all sorts of problems with sandwiches and lunches. Some had bought provisions, some had not.  Some had a roast dinner or barbecue waiting at home, some did not.  Distraught at the sight of others eating all around him, particularly Mr Taplin’s extensive spread, Injured and starving Longparish U15 Steve Bearpark positioned himself directly in front of the Easton roller, refusing to move from his parlous position unless food was provided, his father disappearing to a nearby hostelry to return with beer and crisps, which caused further trouble amongst the Barton crowd who would have killed for a beer, but had been provided with bottles of life enhancing water by well meaning spouses.  Mr Aldridge and Mr Sherwood, retreated a hundred yards to the shade of a tree to consume their provisions, instigating more suspicious murmurings from the underfed and the underwatered as the chat returned to cricket.  The Easton openers picked up the run rate to between four and five an over, before U11 Ollie Coetzee picked up two wickets with some skilful bowling. The run out of Easton top scorer Sean Yeates for 26 followed, Alex Coetzee and Brad Hooker bowling tidily, along with William de Cani and Charles Sherwood as Easton finished on 107 from 20 overs.

With Nora the scorer exposed to the elements, blistering in the midday sun, Longparish began their reply. Starting slowly against a pair of talented opening bowlers, Alex Coetzee was the first wicket to fall, caught behind after making 6.  William de Cani batted on, and seemed to have found a bit of form, hitting twelve from one over before retiring on 31, Michael Taplin and Brad Hooker maintained the run rate for a brief period before losing their wickets.  Brad Aldridge taking charge with a superb display of clean hitting, finishing on 22 not out alongside Dan Pomroy, sealing victory for Longparish by 7 wickets in the 18th over.