[W]LA were crowned the Under14 Cricket County Champions in dramatic fashion on Thursday 12th of July; this is the first time since the old Wyndham School won the trophy forty years ago.
The match report is as follows. Playing at Keswick Cricket Club, WLA lost the toss and were put in to bat by Nelson Thomlinson. We made a fast start, with openers Matthew Harrison and Olly Wilford putting on 73 for the first wicket. Matthew fell, caught at cover for 43. Olly steadied the ship, played a captain’s innings to make 46 and was only out in the very last over. He was ably supported by Ewan Campbell, who made 15, and the big hitting Lewis Baker who scored 20 not out. Oldham took 3 wickets for 17 runs for Nelson Thomlinson. WLA finished with an impressive 157 for 6.
Then the rain came, for nearly an hour and as a consequence it was agreed that the overs should be reduced and Duckworth Lewis used to calculate the total.
Nelson Thomlinson were set a winning target of 105, with it being agreed that 104 would be a tie.
The innings commenced, NTS started brightly but were pegged back by a quick and aggressive spell of bowling from Matthew Harrison who took 1 wicket for the loss of 14 runs in his 3 overs. Lewis Hunter also bowled a tidy spell; 3 overs for 20 runs. Captain Olly Wilford managed the field well. The Nelson Thomlinson Captain, Johnstone finished 54 not out, a superb knock in the circumstances.
NTS needed 11 to win off the final over, Greg Wilson from WLA bowled it. NTS almost made it, finishing with a 2 off the final ball and scoring 10 to tie the scores.
Following a further discussion led by the umpire, a super over was to be bowled. This is a single over for each team, with the highest score winning.
WLA won the toss and elected to field. Matthew Harrison bowled the over. The scoring was 2 from the first ball, 1 from the second. The third ball was a wicket, the middle stump knocked from the ground. 1 was scored from the fourth ball. Nothing from the fifth. Wicket from the sixth, caught behind by the keeper, Wilford. Total: 4 runs for 2 wickets.
WLA needed 5 to win. First ball was a wide, so 1 scored. Second ball was edged by Harrison, past the keeper, WLA scampered 3. Wilford on strike and he calmly as ever nudged the ball into a gap and ran 1. Total score 5, from three balls.
West Lakes Academy were crowned U14 Cricket County Champions.
A huge thanks to those who have supported the team throughout, Egremont Cricket Club for hosting our matches, Keswick Cricket Club for hosting the final. Chris Allason for all his hard work in running the competitions. The two umpires; Mr Johnstone and Mr Houghton. Finally, David Stubbings, our volunteer umpire, minibus driver and scorer.
Team in full: Olly Wilford, Matthew Harrison, Jamie Martin, Lewis Hunter, Ewan Campbell, Greg Wilson, Lewis Baker, Ben Blythe, James Messenger, Edward Clough, Josh Pennington, Owen O’Neil, Jack Pollard.
Mr Jack Stubbings – West Lakes Academy PE Teacher
