U11 TIGERS

Sunday 19th June - HOME vs Finchampstead

Finchampstead won the toss, and put Reading, led by Blue as Captain into bat. Unfortunately Simeon was runout in the 1st over. Tom had an 11 run partnership with Marcus before being bowled. In came Dhanyal who started the fight back. Marcus was later caught of a skidding ball. Blue faced 3 balls before being before being bowled for 1. Kieran did a great straight drive which everyone was stunned by (Including Kerian). Having been bowled he gets the prize (if there was one!) for looking the happiest when leaving the pitch. Jacob was a further victim for a duck due to the damp pitch. Shaun faced 29 balls hitting 5 runs before being excellently run out. Joshua on debut hit his first run. Reading finished with Danyal 21 not out and Joshua 1 not out.  Boundaries from Tom, Dhanyal x3, Kieran x2. We finished on 94 for 7, helped by the 46 extras.

Good points: batted the twenty overs again, despite the damp pitch slowing up the ball, and costing us four wickets. Dhanyal, Shaun, Tom and Kieran spent good time at the crease. Joshua's 1st run not out.

Learning: Backing up and calling, as we still had some run outs, and missed out on more runs. Still need to defend balls that are heading for the stumps (especially on the damp wicket).

 Then it was Finchampsteads turn to bat. Reading used seven bowlers, all of whom bowled very well, we only gave 34 extras on the drying pitch. It went down to the last over Finchampstead needing 12 off the over, the lucky bowler to bowl it was Shaun. This is the the over went

W ( bowled), W ( st by Tom ), ., 1, Wd, 1, 1. So reading won by 6 runs with Finchampstead  finishing on 88 for 3

Good Points: Excellent fielding including stopping, backing up and hitting of stumps from the deep Blue and Shaun. Shaun's overs especially the last one, finishing with 2 wickets for 7 runs off 3 overs. Tom's vocal support of the team!

Learning: Keeping quiet once the bowler starts to run in, including Tom whilst he was bowling!

 Thanks to Jason for scoring and late standin Phil for the umpiring and feedback.

 2nd win of the season well done Reading!

Sunday 22th May - AWAY vs Maidenhead & Bray

Reading’s Captain Jacob lost the toss and we were put into bat, we were expecting rain !

Report drafted by Tom

“Heather faced the 1st over, defended the 1^st 5 balls admirably, of their extremely fast and accurate opening bowler (He ended with 2 overs for 3 runs and 3 wickets !!) and was bowled by the 6^th !! We didn’t have the best of starts losing the first 5 batsmen for ducks, leaving us 4 for 5 in the 1^st 3 overs !! The Reading fight back began, with Tom and Dhanyal (and lasted another 11 overs). Dhanyal got 9 before being caught. In came Shourya , who got 5 (including a fantastic slash for 4) of 3 balls before being bowled by a blistering ball. In came Marcus who shared an 18 run partnership with Tom was eventually trapped LBW for a well taken (his words !!) 24 (including 4 boundaries). The innings ended with Toby’s wicket for our 6^th duck, Marcus was still there 5 not out. The innings ended on 56 for 9 in the 14 over.”

LEARNING:  They had an excellent bowling attack, but we still need to be able to bat for the 20 overs. Those who got some runs built their innings, defending a number of good balls on the wicket.  Backing up and calling was better, but needs to keep developing. We had a couple of close scares on runouts, and need to ensure that we run the bat in when approaching the crease.

“Reading were going to struggle to defend the low total (Picture of Reading in the field attached). Although we gave away very few extras, and there was some great direct hits from the field (Blue and Shourya), some powerfully hit fours resulted in the total being reached the 10^th over. Other highlights were Joe’s bowling 2 overs, 8 runs for 1 wickets, with the other wickets bowled by Marcus and a caught behind by Tom off of Heather’s bowling (in the extra overs following the loss!). Marcus missed out on two questionable no ball decisions that were called as three bounces when hit the stumps, as mentioned pitch up a little further, possibly the gusty wind slowed them !!”

LEARNING: We still need to ensure we are in the correct fielding position to stop boundaries, rather than moving to block the gaps once the runs are conceded. Sharad you mentioned a fielding plan? Are you able to work on this for future matches?

Thanks to Simon for umpiring (you are forgiven for the plumb LBW decision!) and Jason for scoring

Sunday 15th May - HOME vs Slough

A heavy defeat, (READING 73 all out in 19.1 overs, SLOUGH 74 for 0, in 10.1overs), but some good points, and learning to takeway.

Reading’s Captain (Joe) won the toss and elected to bat.

Tom and Kieran opened, but in the 2^nd over Tom pulled and nicked one to their keeper for 2 runs. Joe came in and played a great cover drive first ball only to pick out the fielder. Two balls later Joe was bowled for a duck. Kieran was soon to follow with a edge to slip for 1 run. In came Kayleigh. But suddenly after a long time in the crease Simeon was bowled for 2 runs. Then came Dhanyal. His partner Kayleigh was soon to follow the fate of the 4 batsmen before her she was bowled for 0. In came Marcus. But before Marcus had faced many balls his partner Dhanyal was bowled for 0 and soon to follow was Marcus who was also bowled for 0. Jacob and Shourya came in. But Shourya stayed for 11 balls before being bowled for 1.

Then came the Reading fight back by Jacob and Hasib (hitting 10 runs of 20 balls hitting one 4), on his debut. Jacob stayed around for a while hitting one 4 before being bowled for 5. In came Jonathan who unluckly faced their best bowler in his first ever batting performance was bowled for a golden duck.

We were thankful for the 52 extras bowled by Slough, bringing our total to 73 all out.

LEARNING POINTS.

• In stepping up from U9 to U11, we have a lot more time (20 overs) available at the crease, and can build innings rather than having to smash every ball. 
• Good balls on the stumps should be defended with straight bat!
• In addition we need to be making the most of running opportunities with our backing up and calling.

Now it was time to defend our score, that looked a little low!

Joe and Simeon opened the bowling, but after both had tight 1^st overs, both were subjected to some powerful hitting from the Slough openers.  Kieran was also hit for a couple of fours. It was then down to Marcus and Hasib to defend against the fast approaching target. Both bowled well but Slough reached the target in the 11^th over. With 58 coming off the bat, but some tight bowling meant we only gave away 16 extras.

Overall in the field Reading were really good with some great backing up, the bowling was also great but were unlucky because the more experienced Slough 1^st XI batsmen took 10 fours, and lost no wickets. There were 6 close run out chances with some great throws.

Thanks to Sharad for umpiring, David for scoring, and Jo/Clare for refreshments.

Tuesday 10th May - AWAY vs North Maidenhead

A great win in our 1^st game of the season, against younger opposition, but an impressive performance by everyone.

 Batting: 144 for 3, helped by 43 extras ! Note scores below may be missing a Four for one of the latter four batmen !

   Simeon 28, inc 2 6s and 2 4s, retired

   Kieran 26, inc 5 4s, retired

   Tom 19, inc 3 4s, hit own wicket!!

   Dhanyal 11, inc 2 4s, run out

   Marcus 7, inc a 4, bowled

   Josh 5, inc a 4, not out (following traumatic journey to match!)

   Joe 1, not out

   Heather, Blue, Jonathon, Toby did not bat this match, will definitely in your next one.

Bowling:  North Maidenhead   62 all out !! They managed 5 stylish 4s

   Joe 3 wickets for 1 run in 3 overs ! including a caught & bowled, and a two wicket maiden

   Dhanyal 2 wickets, ended their innings with a plumb LBW

   Marcus 2 wickets in a maiden over

   Blue, a caught & bowled

   Heather bowled a maiden(!), and only one wide in her two overs.

Fielding

   Two run outs, including Tom's one stump direct hit

   Great catches by Toby and Simeon 2

   Excellent fielding, stops and backing up from whole team, including Jonathon

Area for everyone to focus on improving  in next match, “when batting, backing up, calling and running.” 

Thanks again to Gail & Asif for scoring and umpiring services. And well done to all the team

U11 LIONS

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