CUMBRIA U-11 v HUNTINGDON U-11. MINOR COUNTIES FESTIVAL, RHS, AUGUST 9TH, 2014. HUNTINGDON 156-10 FROM 46 OVERS (12 A SIDE GAME) CUMBRIA 80-10 FROM 44 OVERS. DRAW. To the names of Atherton and Russell, Anderson and Panesar, we can now add Thompson and Spark. A magnificent rearguard action by Cumbrias last wicket pairing of Sam Thompson and George Spark salvaged the most unlikely draw in a game which for long periods seemed destined to end in defeat. Coming together in the 30th over after a disappointing batting display, the two had 14 overs to survive if Cumbria were to save some face in a game where theyd won the toss and asked the opposition to bat. As the end drew near, each smothered forward defensive and every judicious leave were cheered as if they were huge boundaries. Cumbria began the match well, striking three times inside the first 11-overs to reduce Huntingdon to 26-3, one a stupendous return catch by Sam Thompson, diving one-handed as he followed through. Huntingdon rallied, but two vital wickets for off-spinner Adam Wilson just before lunch wrestled the initiative back. An enthralling second session saw Bertie Medhurst teasing and deceiving the batsmen with masterly control of length, finally gaining some just reward for two days of lovely legspin bowling. He finished with figures of of 7-2-14-3. A smart catch from Braith Conner from the bowling of George Spark, plus debut tournament wickets too for Teddy Ferguson and Stanley McAlindon helped sustain the pressure and forced Huntingdon to gamble by taking the extra over allowed to the batting side to try to set a more daunting target. 157 was within reach, but only if Cumbria batted with discipline and no little luck in the 44 overs left to them by Festival rules. As it was, Cumbria again failed to avoid the curse of early wickets, the top order subsiding in the face of a total spin attack, at one point teetering on 10-4 from just seven overs, and then 48-8 from 23. Scott McGown had shown some brief defiance, but it was only Matthew Strong who could combine an alert defence with an appetite for rare bad balls, surviving long periods before perishing for a top-scoring 25. Huntingdon persisted with their spin tactics, pushing hard for an early result, and did not introduce their first seam bowler until the 25th over. It was an understandable throw of the dice, junior batters finding prolonged periods of quality spin bowling difficult to endure. But, as the twirlymen used up their allocation, Cumbria were alive - just. Sam Thompson, who came to the crease in the 20th over, faced almost 40-balls before getting off the mark, a hint of the restraint that would ultimately save the game. He was aided first by Egremont clubmate, Owen Thompson, before George Spark, under tremendous pressure, walked to the wicket in the 30th over. All looked lost. But as each dot was recorded in the scorebooks, anxious parents on both teams began to joke about the great rearguard actions of cricketing history. Spark and Thompson didnt disappoint, smiles as wide as the nearby River Stour as they came off at the end proof that theyd understood what batting in longer forms of the game can be about.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 08:20:52 +0000
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