SJCF U16 Bowl Final v Ansty

Worthing 210 for 6 (off 45 overs) beat Ansty 150 All Out (off 39.4 overs)

Worthing U16s scored a rare achievement with back-to-back wins in the Sussex Junior Cricket Festival Bowl Final, following up on their success in 2011. The match, once again, was hosted by Arundel Castle C.C., a truly fitting venue for this historic competition, and played out, for the most part, in glorious sunshine.

Worthing won the toss and chose to bat but this decision looked to be ill-judged when opener Michael Askew was dismissed in the first over. Mason Crane joined Harry Dunn at the crease, both looking to steady the ship and patiently re-build the innings. Slowly but crucially this pair saw off the next 20 overs without the loss of another wicket until a mix-up in the middle saw Dunn run-out for 30. Although the score had only reached 58 by the end of the 21^st over, the platform for the middle order was provided as the teams enjoyed an early lunch while thunder and lightning, and a brief shower temporarily interrupted play. At the resumption, Aaron Tugnutt joined Crane in the middle in what would prove to be a decisive performance. Batting through to the close, Tugnutt scored 68 not out off 57 balls with some lusty blows to all parts of the ground. James Allen (18) and Harvey Von Biel (11) played their part, but the arrival of Nick Ballamy who scored 32 in just 18 balls was pivotal. In just under 7 overs the 5^th wicket put on 60 runs in what was probably the turning point of the match. Ansty did well to keep the run flow in check with Jack Best the pick of the bowlers conceding just 16 runs off 6 overs but in general there was some great work in the field preventing the further loss of runs as Worthing’s batsmen looked to add to the total in the closing stages. Worthing concluded on 210 with 6 wickets down in their allotted 45 overs which was a creditable effort, given their slightly nervy beginning.

Ansty made an assured start reaching 66 without loss at tea after 16 overs. Although Worthing had bowled well and kept the run rate down to a manageable level, Ansty’s openers looked untroubled with no real hint of a chance in the session before tea. Worthing resumed the attack after the interval with a double bowling change immediately introducing their two left-arm spinners. This proved to be a key moment as first Harry Dunn, aided by a smart low catch from Martyn Swift to dismiss Will Wright for 28, and then James Allen, made breakthroughs in successive overs taking a wicket apiece as the first hint of optimism for Worthing. Key to Ansty’s chances was Ed Coombs, but when he was finally undone by leg-spinner Mason Crane on 62 with the total on 121, game was all but won for Worthing. As runs became hard to find, Ansty began to lose wickets and two calamitous run-outs proved to be their undoing. Harry Dunn claimed two further victims to finish with best figures of 3 for 32 but perhaps, fittingly, it was Jamie Piper who took the last wicket having bowled superbly all week; Ansty finishing on 150 all out in the 40^th over.

Ed Coombs rightly collected the man-of-the-match award for his innings and captaincy of the Ansty team, but Worthing were deserved winners of the final which should live long in the memory of this group of boys who have grown up together on and off the field.