Report supplied by Adam Carty

Michelmersh &Timsbury under 9’s v Totton & Eling under 9’s / Friday 28^th May / 6.30pm Start / Away

Under a bright yet rather volatile sky T&E’s youngsters took to the road for the first time and ended up in Michelmersh & Timsbury. In the absence of Molly Edmondson, wicket keeper Ryan Dibben stepped up to carry the captain’s mantle and started well by winning the toss and electing to bat. The winning of the toss proved to be the highlight of the evening for the inexperienced T&E boys who even in the presence of a large and exuberant away supporters section and riding the euphoric wave of a momentous last ball victory last time out failed to reach the dizzy heights of a fortnight earlier. Upon batting first, at no time did T&E take the initiative away from M&T. On an unfamiliar lively track pressure mounted as few run scoring shots were executed and albeit amidst a sprinkling of stern and dogged defensive play; star gazing and Japanese fighter pilot tendencies whilst running between the wickets took over and before they knew it, T&E had posted a final total of 3 (203) after 16 tough 6-ball overs. It must be said that M&T had at their disposal three district level boys all who contributed significantly to their very impressive bowling display. Marshall Mather proved to be the only T&E batter to see the ball cross the boundary rope with a tenacious pull to square leg in the 15^th over. T&E started well as they defended their modest total and to their credit after 8 overs were still very much in the game. Alas any real parity came to an end when the first of the final two M&T pairs came to the crease. T&E battled away to the final ball of the match, showing commitment and bravery, epitomized by team captain Ryan Dibben who in taking some painful blows to the body whilst keeping never lay down and commanded his troops well to the end. T&E had four moments of jubilation whilst in the field coming by way of Master’s Carty, Clarke, Laughland & Mather as each respectively castled an opponent’s stumps but four dismissals was always going to be insufficient as the final two Timsbury pairs hit 65 runs between them. Once again much credit must go to the final four M&E batters who demonstrated some really fine cricketing shots, to which I hope our boys appreciated and learnt from… 83 (283) was the final M&T total and a defeat by 80 runs was the result. Well done Michelmersh. A fine team and a very pleasant group of boys…