U16s v Chichester U16s SJCF - 17.8.12

Worthing 267 for 5 dec (off 34 overs) beat Chichester 140 All Out (off 34.1 overs)

Worthing made their way into the final with an assured win at the Manor Ground on what was a fine summer’s afternoon. Having lost the toss, Worthing were put into bat and immediately began to pile on the runs at a brisk rate. All of the Worthing top order got good starts and on another day would have perhaps got a hundred but the occasional slack short combined with some good catching gave the visitors a measure of control. The pick of the batsmen were Aaron Tugnutt and James Allen both scoring 61 against a varied Chichester attack who were willing to give everyone a bowl on the last day of the week. Allen’s 24 in the 34^th over including three sixes was the trigger for the declaration.

Chichester started steadily enough as their two openers took the score into the mid 40’s but a double bowling change in the form of Nick Oxley and Jamie Piper, each bagging a pair in quick succession, effectively saw the end of Chichester’s hopes of reaching Worthing’s total. With the field in, James Stemp and Charlie Futcher cashed in on some indifferent slow bowling but the return of the seamers saw the last 4 wickets go down in as many overs, Martyn Swift finishing on 3 for 22. Another great performance from the U16s, particularly with the bat, who now look forward to a final against Ansty on Sunday.

Scorecard 

Under 16s - 27.5.12

Chichester (98 All Out) lost to Worthing (99 for 6) by 4 wickets

In the end Worthing won out in a low scoring game which they could have easily have lost but for a remarkable run chase at the death. Things didn’t start well for Worthing when key all-rounder, James Allen, retired injured having turned his ankle in the field during the 3^rd over. Nonetheless opening seamers Martyn Swift (2 for 10) and Nick Ballamy (1 for 17), supported by Sam Greenrod (2 for 21) each completed their 5 allotted overs keeping Chichester pegged back with some pacey accurate bowling and a steady stream of wickets. Chichester’s Charlie Futcher (24) responded well with the bat hitting 3 fours but when he was out in the 20^th over the runs dried up leaving Harvey Von Biel to take the final two wickets with the home side all out in the 25^th over just shy of the hundred mark.

Worthing’s reply started well as their new winter signing, Michael Askew, having already made a name for himself with 2 stumpings and 2 catches from behind the stumps in the first innings, helped himself to a score of 31 (retired out), including one fine straight six. However, the middle order slumped; two quick wickets and only 21 runs in the middle 10 overs left Worthing still needing 40 runs off the last 5; an unlikely task against a good Chichester attack. However, the 6^th wicket partnership of James Neal and Harvey Von Biel started to get things moving and when James was unluckily run out, Harvey took control hitting a match winning innings of 29, 15 coming off the 24^th over including a well struck 6 over long on. By the time he was out the game had all but been won and it was left to the captain, Martyn Swift, to hit the winning runs in the final over.

15.8.11 - U16A v Chichester

U16 Bowl Match 1: Worthing (148 All Out) beat Chichester (123 All Out) by 25 runs

Worthing finished as victors from a game played in contrasting conditions and which for a long while could have gone either way. Worthing, having won the toss, chose to bat, starting the game in bright sunshine on what proved to be a slow wicket. With runs not coming easily, opener Harry Dunn set about building an innings that would ultimately provide the backbone of the innings and by the time he departed on 73 with the total on 140, his innings, including 9 fours, would prove pivotal to the outcome of the match. Robbie Anderson (16) and Harvey Von Biel (15 not out) played nice cameo innings alongside Harry but a madcap final 2 overs saw Worthing lose their last 4 wickets in quick succesion, including a hat-trick from Chichester's Elliott Davies as Worthing tried to boost their total.

By the resumption the sun had been replaced by overcast an murky conditions and Worthing's opening bowlers, Martyn Swift and Nick Ballamy bowled well enough to keep Chichester down to just 15 off the first 9 overs. The murky conditions were soon replaced by some light drizzle as Worthing's spinners took control of the game. Mason Crane and James Allen bowled in tandem in the 2nd half of the innings as Chichester tried to up the run rate but on a troublesome pitch and in difficult conditions the wickets started to fall. Ollie Greenless (42) starred with the bat for Chichester but when he was out for the 7th wicket the game was up. To Chichester's credit, they continued the run chase but to no avail with Mason and James both finishing with 4 wickets apiece.

Scorecard