Boys' U14A v Wellingborough

Date: Saturday 1st May

Venue: Away, depart 11.40 am

Team: M.J.I. Goodacre (c & w/k), D. Afoakwah, C.T. Bell, R.L. Binns, W.M.F. Buckley, A. Cartlidge, S.P. Cotter, J.B.S. Frost, A.T. Hibell, S.A. Reynolds, J. Taft. 

Result: Wellingborough 136 [30 overs] (Hibell  4 – 16, Taft 2 – 18, Buckley 2 – 20)

Repton 137 – 5 [26 overs] (Goodacre 81*, Cartlidge 20)

Won by 5 wickets

Match Report:

On a slightly dampish wicket where the ball was not coming onto the bat, but with a fast outfield, Wellingborough's innings was a start/stop affair – at the end of the third over they were 26 for 2, then 28 for 3 after the fourth over.  A partnership of 47 steadied their ship and at the half-way point the opposition were 73 for 3, which was about par for the course.  However, wickets started to fall and their run-rate dropped against some good bowling from Hibell and Taft, which meant their total was about 25 runs short of what was required.

Repton's innings started well with Goodacre and Cartlidge putting on 36 for the first wicket before Cartlidge edged to slip in the seventh over.  The next few batsmen found it difficult to come to terms with the slow pitch and perished cheaply, which put the onus on Goodacre.  After trying to hit the ball too hard he then found his timing and played some good shots.  Cotter gave him sterling support, but was unluckily run out at the bowler's end when Goodacre's crisp straight drive was deflected onto the stumps by way of the bowler's boot.  Goodacre finished off the run chase in grand style (4, 4, 2, 2 of consecutive balls) to make Repton the winners with four overs to go.