U16 v Bognor SJCF - 14.8.12

Bognor 102 All Out (off 42 overs) lost to Worthing 105 for 0 (off 18 overs)

After the disappointment of a scratched game at the start of the week, Worthing’s U16 Festival campaign got off to an emphatic start beating long-time rivals Bognor by 10 wickets. Some overnight rain had made the pitch a little lively so having won the toss Worthing had no hesitation putting Bognor into bat. Worthing’s attack made the most of the conditions bowling tight lines making runs hard to come by. Wickets fell steadily during the course of the innings as Worthing’s bowlers and fielding continued to apply pressure on the vistors. Michael Harris offered stern resistance batting for over half the innings and Adam Robinson weighed in with a sprightly 25 not out towards the end of the innings to help Bognor’s total into 3 figures before the last wicket fell on the last ball of their allotted overs.

The bright sunshine and warming air of the early afternoon had clearly improved the condition of the wicket and by the time Worthing began their innings the pitch was less threatening. Worthing opener Harry Dunn (29 not out) supported a fine innings by his partner, Michael Askew, who went on to score 57 not out, hitting 12 fours along the way in another commanding display.  On another day Bognor may have bagged a couple of wickets but the result was never really in doubt as Worthing eased passed the target at the end of the 18^th over without loss. A great start to Worthing’s week but will still need to be at their best during the week for further successes.

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Photographs

22.6.11 - U15s v Bognor

Worthing 114 for 4 after 20.0 overs beat Bognor by 14 runs, (100 all out after 18.5 overs)

Worthing travelled to Bognor for their first U15 league match of the season curtailed to 20 overs per side enforced by the strained efforts of the management team to race across the county during rush hour in a valiant attempt to beat the setting sun. Worthing duly won the toss and elected to bat first. Harry Dunn gave the visitors a positive start, scoring a sprightly 24 before he was out in the 7th over with the score on 38 . Martyn Swift (25) and Robbie Anderson (26) both played steadily forming a good partnership in the core of the innings taking the score towards the 100 mark before they both retired not out as the innings moved towards its conclusion. Ollie Carpenter entered the fray and injected some quick fire hitting including a near 6, straight back over the bowlers head. When Ollie was out for 17 off just 8 balls at the end of the 20th over, Worthing's total had reached a respectable 114.

Martyn Swift's opening spell of 4 overs for 10 runs set the tone as Bognor set about the chase. Always slightly behind the run rate, the key to the match would be in the 2nd half of the innings; could Bognor hold their nerve or would Worthing's fielding crumble under the mounting pressure. In the end it would be Worthing's bowlers who would prevail; Harry Dunn's match turning 5 wickets for 15 proving decisive as Bognor's lower order fell away. Aaron Tugnutt with the gloves did particularly well  once more claiming 4 stumpings including that of Bognor's only retirement, Ollie Adams, who returned at the fall of the 9th wicket only to dash it all away as he charged down the pitch in the fading light. Despite some occasional lapses in the field by Worthing, this was a well won victory against two evenly matched sides for which the boys should be congratulated.

Scorecard

29.5.11 - U16s v Bognor

Worthing 144 for 3 off 25 overs beat Bognor by 40 runs, 104 all out after 24.1 overs

An overcast morning with the very occasional light shower saw Worthing start the game after being invited to bat by the visitors. After an early loss, some expansive hitting from Harry Dunn, 30 no, Daniel Stuart, 30 no and Nick Ballamy, 32no, generating a total of 17 boundaries between them, saw three successive retirements as Worthing eased passed the 100 mark in the 20th over. Joe Ashmore was the pick of the Bognor bowlers going for just 16 off 5 overs trying to keep a lid on things, but some sprightly runs from the bats of Ollie Carpenter, Sam Wookey and James Allen towards the end got Worthing's total up to an impressive 144 for just 3 down at the close.

Bognor got off to sticky start and were already 3 wickets down in the 5th over as Bradley Lewis opened up with an impressive first spell. Alex Cooper lead a fine rearguard action for Bognor claiming his own retirement score, but the introduction of Mason Crane's leg-spin was the catalyst for the demise of the lower order. Cooper returned in the late innings but when he was out for the 10th wicket for 33, Bognor's total was still 40 runs shy of Worthing's. Bradley and Mason shared the same figures of 4 for 16 off 5 overs, capping a good all-round performance by Worthing in the field.

Scorecard