Ballan U13 cricketers defeated by Napoleons/Sebastopol

LAST week was the longest road trip in under-13 cricket, with a packed lunch and full water bottle required for the treacherous trek out to Napoleons.

With 10 players named, it soon became nine playing as Clarkie (No.1) decided it was preferential to watch day one of the Perth Test rather than venture out to the other end of oblivion. (He actually just got on the wrong bus – oops).

Captain Eddie won the toss and decided to bowl first against one of the top sides in the competition.

With just nine on the field, Jack put his hand up and said “I’ll ‘keep the whole innings, let the bowlers at it”.

He did a brilliant job, getting better by the week, stopping most and gloving them really nicely.

Eddie was excellent with his 2-9 off four overs. Henry bowled three for the first time in under-13s, living up to the Cairns name – which is feared out this way (three solid overs for 14).

Isaac, Archer and Zac were all economical, Kiara and Hudson also took wickets, and Austin was his normal speedy self in the field with Zac also chasing them down, restricting the opposition to 88 off 20 overs – gettable.

Isaac and Kiara opened up as usual and ran like the wind between wickets, turning ones into twos. It was great to watch.

Addie lit it up with a six and a few fours, and we were ticking along. Doc retired and Heshas almost retired.

With four overs to go the coach went to the batters: “We are close here but need to speed it up a little. DJ is still to come back out and the speedy Arch is chomping at the bit to run a few quick singles.”

Unfortunately in the haste a few run-outs ensued, with the last being Zac run out for a diamond duck (run out without facing a ball, one of the rarest dismissals in cricket and one that this coach has experienced only once before) but it’s a team game and we were having a crack.

This bought Isaac back in, and he got out trying to up the ante. In came Eddie and with Hudson they had a swing. with 20 off the last over required – not out of the question with Eddie on strike.

A few lusty swings and couple of fours wasn’t quite enough.

BRONWEN DAVENPORT