Blackheath U15s v Shalford U16s - June 13th 2010

Report by Nick Harrison

Blackheath U15s (108 for 9) beat Shalford U16s (104 all out) by 4 runs

Poor Shalford! Whilst we have had a whole series of tight finishes this season, I cannot remember any game for a long time in which victory has been snatched back from quite so far inside the jaws of defeat. All credit to the Blackheath team, but it is difficult not to feel a little sorry for the opposition who have never beaten us, but - for at least 30 of the 35 overs of this match - had distinctly the better of the game.

Having defeated the same opponents comfortably in each of the past 2 season, we approached this match with what turned out to be ill-founded confidence that it would be the same again. However, after Torsten won the toss and elected to bat, it rapidly became clear that this Shalford team - strengthened by the addition of a couple of former Guildford players and generally a much better all round unit - was not going to be a pushover. The Shalford bowling was tight from the off and so was their fielding, as Torsten discovered to his cost as early as the second over when after a slight hesitation, he was run out by a direct hit. Ronny, batting up the order after a rapid 74 for the Development XI last Sunday, was bowled shortly afterwards, and although Lewis and David played a couple of good shots each, neither lasted very much longer. Only Jamie, after a couple of early scares, batted with any fluency, and when Martin was bowled and Rob run out by another very smart piece of Shalford fielding, total collapse threatened as Danny and Tom both departed without troubling the scorers and Sam fared little better.

At 71 for 9 with only 13 balls remaining, we needed something special to post even a half decent score, and we got it in the form of a remarkable final couple of overs, when Jamie (who had retired after passing 25) came back to the crease to join Oscar. From just 11 further balls which he faced, he scored no fewer than 36 runs, with Oscar pinching the odd single to give him back the strike just when it was needed. This devastating final assault on the bowling took Jamie's personal score to 64 not out and the Blackheath total to 108 at the end of the 20 overs, which although not exactly intimidating was at least respectable.

After a positive start, Shalford were rocked on their heels almost immediately by Martin, who took 2 wickets in his opening over - the first a sharp caught and bowled and the second a comfortable catch by Tom at square leg. However, George Stephens and Keith Fagg then settled well at the crease and we found it hard to stem the runs. After Oscar bowled Fagg with a good yorker, Stephens was joined by Richardson and they batted beautifully, looking in no trouble whatever, until each of them retired after passing 25. At 83 for 3 after just 10 overs, the writing appeared to be on the wall, and even after Danny removed Corning and Sheen in the same over, it seemed all in a lost cause - by the 14th over Shalford had reached 102, leaving just 7 needed to win and 4 wickets still in hand, with both Stephens and Richardson still able to return. Indeed, the Shalford coach was rash enough to tell me that he would resign his job if his team could not win the match from here!

And then, in one of those extraordinary passages of play that happens perhaps just once a season, the game turned on its head. From the final ball of Ronny's third over Mike Terris, who had looked in full command, sent a steepling shot skywards, leaving ample time for me to mutter "they'll never catch that" before Sam, the man underneath it, made it look the easiest thing in the world. The next over Torsten was right on the spot to produce the second double wicket maiden of the innings, as both O'Neill and then Stephens (who had returned to administer the coup de grace) were well caught by Lewis and Oscar respectively. Suddenly there was just one wicket left with 7 still needed and Torsten called up Rob, who still had his final over to bowl. Rob's opening spell had been slightly loose by his own high standards, but with the game at stake he was as fast, hostile and accurate as ever. Though the Shalford batsmen managed to scramble a single and then a leg bye, the next ball it was all over, with the stumps shattered, and a look of disbelief on the faces of players and spectators alike. The Blackheath jinx on Shalford had struck again ...