The B squad took on Berkhamsted’s B team and unfortunately, there was a slight mismatch. For example, while their opening bat was a county cricket scholar, our opening bowler was making his debut, having only attended one training session and never having played a game of cricket in his life!

David B and James H, two of our less experienced players, bravely decided (were given no option) to open the batting. They survived their four overs without conceding a wicket and in fact the ball very rarely beat the bat at all. Both saw the ball well and once James got his eye in, he clubbed a couple towards the boundary. Their calling and running between the wicket showed real improvement and confidence grew throughout the partnership.

Aiden and Sam, making his debut as Captain, strode to the wicket and again the development in terms of calling, game understanding and basic technique, showed huge improvement. In fact both timed the ball really well and Sam managed to strike three powerfully hit boundaries. Sam’s progress as a cricketer continues to show genuine potential, if this what he can achieve four games in, he is definitely one to watch in the future.

Marcus and Jamie strode to the wicket and facing some tight bowling, looked to consolidate the platform that had been created. Jamie, growing in confidence on the back of his fine knock at Flamstead last week, held his end up well . Marcus, full of nervous energy and Derek Randall style perpetual motion, was unlucky as he tried to accelerate, picking out the fielders with his better shots.

Elliot and James B were next in and facing the quality spin of Finlay L, again carried their bats. James looked particularly solid, despite never having encounter the situation before. He did confess to finding it a little “stressful” at the non-strikers end but didn’t let it hold him back. Elliot, the senior partner, hit a perfectly timed leg glance for four off the spinner and looked far more considered than he had in the early part of the season.

Jude and Louis saw the innings through to its conclusion, with Jude again trying to hit everything over the fence. Louis showed how much he has come on, getting a bat on everything and exhibiting burgeoning signs of aggression when clubbing one ball through the mid on area.

There were lots of lessons to be learnt, a suicidal run from a wicket keeper’s misfield and a high looping delivery, left to hit the stumps but that’s what B team games are for. In fact, there was so much to be praised in terms of players coping against what had largely been the A team that our A team played against three days earlier.

In terms of our fielding, it could have been a little better. The strong Berkhamsted batsmen do hit the ball very hard, but the Northchurch tendency to use any part of the body rather than the hands to stop the ball crept back in.

What was great to see was the walking in, some of the best all season, with Aiden demonstrating how it should be done and all of the team picking up on that eagerness to get to the ball. Before the innings, we had talked about energy levels and not falling asleep in the field. Gradually, the voices started to pick up. Jude was his usual chirpy self but by the end, hearing very loud “Walking in Northchurch” cries from Jamie P and “Come on Northchurch” from the usually timid David B got everyone going.

Sam grew in to the role of Captain, preferring at first to lead by example with some outstanding bowling. In only his fourth ever game, with beautiful efficient rhythm, reminiscent of Richard Hadlee in his pomp (Google him kids), he generated some serious pace and consistent line and length. His reward was shattering the bails of the opener for a well deserved wicket.

In terms of our other bowlers, the only thing that let them down was consistency. Everyone bowled at lest three excellent deliveries each over, but the others, as you would expect with the quality of opposition, were punished. Elliot was particularly strong in his first over, only conceding a single and David continues to show huge leaps forward with ball in hand.

A couple of particular highlights to pick out include Louis R’s debut behind the stumps. He got his hands to everything, making some astonishing leg side takes and showing fantastic reactions throughout, even when keeping to Sam and Elliot’s pace. Some real potential in those gloves and he will certainly be encouraged to give it a try again.

On top of that, James, in football shorts and bowling his first over in cricket, took a wicket with his sixth ball, a beautifully flighted delivery, deceiving their big hitting number 7, the ball slicing off his bat and pouched confidently by an alert Jamie P.

Northchurch didn’t win the game but were fantastically successful both in terms of positivity, progress and watching our boys develop in to proper cricketers, playing the Northchurch way.

A great effort all round.

Key figures
Bowling
Sam - 3 wickets for 21 off 3 overs
James B - 1 wicket for 18 off 2 overs

Batting
Sam - 14 runs from 4 overs
Elliot - 8 runs from 4 overs
Jude - 12 runs from 4 overs