Match Report by Wes Brookes

For the second league fixture of the season Lightcliffe travelled to Pudsey St Lawrence.

Losing the toss and batting first, each of the 4 pairs added between 20 and 30 runs a piece to post a formidable team total of 310.

Importantly the team only lost 3 wickets in the process. Again sticking to the plan and understanding that the way to post a strong score is to bat well in partnerships, runs were shared out between all of the players. Ben Horne top scored with a wonderful 22 not out with shots all around the ground, Finn Brookes again batted confidently and added 12, George Leach contributed well and scored 11 not out and Matthew Brearley, new to the team this season, scored 10 not out with 2 impressive boundaries and is showing great tenacity and character in his approach to the game. Boundaries flowed and the running between the wickets was excellent from all of the players. Pudsey St Lawrence were playing with the younger of their two teams but did themselves very proud by barely bowling a wide all innings.

At the half way point Lightcliffe were already in a very strong position but from here the focus and performance levels actually increased. The fielding was excellent and so was the bowling - just 3 wides in the whole innings which may be a recent record for under 9 cricket. Pudsey St Lawrence could not manage to stay in the black and ended up 192 for the loss of 11 wickets (net score of 236 less the 44 runs for the 11 wickets).

Chief wicket taker was Callum Barlow who bowled excellently once again and took 3 for 9. The energy and the drive of the team was absolutely electric. Balls that were hit into the air and should have fallen safely into gaps were caught, boundary dives saved runs, and all of the things taught on a Friday in regards to good fielding was put into practice. Charlie Davy Walker caught 3 catches – 2 off his own bowling – but one when he was keeping wicket must be an early contender for catch of the season. The ball looped up off the bat and was destined to drop safely into no man’s land behind square. Charlie sprinted 20 yards after it, dived at full stretch, and clung onto a catch just a few millimetres above the turf. It was a stunning piece of cricket. A few overs later the batting side took what should have been an easy single to midwicket. Finn Brookes sprinted around, picked it up swiftly, and pinged the ball straight above the stumps to where Lewis Barlow was cleverly waiting to receive it. He broke the stumps and another wicket was taken. It was a lovely piece of teamwork and it helped highlight the collective sprit that is evolving between the youngsters.

The buzz and energy of the fielders meant that the foot was never at any point taken off the gas and regular shouts of ‘Come on Lightcliffe lets take another wicket’ rang around the ground throughout the evening. Encouraging each other throughout the innings to collectively strive for the team, it is clear that they all understand that no one player is more important than the other and the boys seem to enjoy each other’s success just as much as their own. The bar has now been raised and set for future games.