The U11 softball team ventured south on Sunday to play Combe in a ten a side match. Arriving as the local church summoned worshipers the sun broke through the clouds on a glorious Oxfordshire morning. Competitive cricket to match the setting ensued for the next two hours in an enthralling encounter, the outcome of which was difficult to predict until well into the second innings.
Having won the toss, skipper for the day Callum Foster put the opposition in. Accurate bowling helped to control the run rate save for a couple of the home batsmen who hit outstanding shots in their innings. Fielding was sharp and commented on by the opposition coaches and catches taken when offered. There was also a run out but especially pleasing was the way the lads fielded as a team, encouraging, communicating and backing up. Combe posted a very challenging score of 300 for 5 and the stage was set for the Banbury run chase.
Despite a hesitant first over the boys soon got into their stride, moving from a negative score to progress through the innings. At the halfway mark the team had amassed 50 runs so were in line to reach the target, many of the runs coming from quick singles. When appropriate, in particular taking advantage of short boundaries, the later pairs accelerated the scoring so that by the time the last batsmen came in the scores were more or less level. Would this mean survival, protection of the score, nope, the boys batted almost oblivious to the score, taking the team to a very healthy 328 and a win by 28 runs (for the loss of 4 wickets).
The team was much changed this week and several players were making their season debuts for the softball team, thank you to all those that helped us to get the fixture on and turned out for an early start, and the parents/carers that brought them. The team have played all their matches this season with great attitude and showed their sportsmanship by clapping the hosts off after the final ball to end a memorable morning’s cricket.