Day 5 - Match day 1

It was an early start as the venue was about 1.5 hours away and we were aiming for a 9.30am start plus factoring in a warm-up that we soon realised we didn’t need in 34 degrees. The venue was a school, which had investment in the cricket faculties due to the current Prime Minister being a former student. We were playing against the Polonnaruwa District U17’s on what looked to be an excellent batting wicket or for those of you more in tune with the cricketing lingo “a proper road”. Having lost the toss the opposition chose to bat first!

We opened the bowling with Ben Seary and Will Hale, with the hope that they weren’t use to facing a 6’7” seam bowler and Ben demonstrating some excellent swing bowling. We soon discovered that the Sri Lankan batsmen weren’t used to facing a swinging ball but the outfield was so quick that any contact often saw the ball racing away for 4 runs. It didn’t take long for Ben to find his rhythm as the breakthrough in the 4th over as he got the ball moving away from the batsman who played and missed resulting in the bails flying off and we had our first wicket of the tour, (sadly I missed it because Jimmy was stood in front of me). However, I didn’t have to wait long to see the second wicket of the tour as the very next ball Ben got it to move away from the batsman who edged the ball to Alex Banhidai in the slips who diving forwards took an outstanding catch and suddenly Ben was on a halt-trick ball but the batsman survived. At the other end Will was asking lots of questions of the batsman and should’ve had his first wicket when delivering a bouncer that the batsman clipped but unfortunately evaded Dom Walkley behind the stumps. This clearly rattled the batsman as two balls later Will bowled a fuller ball and took the batsman’s middle stump and suddenly the hosts were 41 runs for 3 wickets. Ben Seary then finished his spell as once again he got the ball to move away from the batsman who nicked it and Alex B was on hand to snaffle another catch and help Ben to his excellent figures of 3 wickets for 28 runs off 7 overs. 

First change saw Charlie Smith and Alex Banhidai join the attack with the score at 45-4. It was a slight risk bringing Alex on as a spin bowler we thought that this may play in to the hands of the Sri Lankans as they’re quite used to facing spinners. However, the slightly slower version of spin caused them some issues and Alex picked up two wickets with an LBW and a second wicket as the batsman chipped it up to Matt Lambert. After Charlie using his first over to warm-up he delivered some excellent balls and was causing the batsman trouble with the breakthrough finally coming when the batsman tried to cut the ball away but found Will Dommett at backward point who took a superb one handed catch to leaving the hosts 80-5. At the end of their spell the hosts were 148 for 7 and we were looking quite comfortable. 

However, the coaches learnt that as enthusiastic as the boys were to bowl a long spell it took it out of them and for future matches we will look to break up their bowling spells.

At this point Matt Fisk, Henry Welland and Alex Peirson were introduced in to the attack. Henry bowled well with a consistent line and length making it difficult for the batsman, which led to him collecting a couple of wickets via a catch from Matt Lambert and clean bowling the batsman. 

Leo Kendrick had a good spell but without the reward of any wickets with figures of just 12 runs off 3 overs, which considering how fast the outfield was this was excellent.

The final wicket came from Matt Lamberts bowling when a sharp Jimmy Tye behind the stumps took and excellent catch from a fine edge to see the hosts bowled out in 35 overs for 197 runs. This was a pleasing total as gave us something to bat towards and the boys were confident as we went in for lunch.

Alex Peirson and Will Dommett opened the batting and were a little apprehensive as to what to expect from the hosts bowling attack. Fortunately they opened with a couple of seamers, which Alex and Will were comfortable facing. This was highlighted in the first over in which Alex wasted no time in seeing off any bad balls and saw us scoring 13 runs. They continued to bat well together rotating the strike picking up singles and dispatching any short balls to the boundary for 4 runs. Alex raced to 48 runs at which point he survived after reversing the ball to the man at 45 and he dropped him. A relieved Alex brought up his 50 from 40 balls but unfortunately he wasn’t able to add many more when he was trapped leg before wicket on 57 runs. At the opposite end Will was scoring a more steady rate as they scored 97 runs before Alex’s wicket fell. Will was showing a fine array of shots and worked incredibly hard for his 56 runs that came in just over 2 hours of batting in sweltering conditions. 

After Alex lost his wicket Fin Watkins came in to support Will and did a good job of rotating the strike and keeping pressure on the hosts by ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking over. He was a touch unlucky to lose his wicket as he got through the shot a little early and chipped the ball up for an easy caught & bowled for 8 runs.

Ben Seary was the next batsman in with the score at 133 for 2 wickets. Ben demonstrated excellent timing  hitting several boundaries and making the fielders work hard as he worked the ball around the field well. He was supported by Ciaran Watmore who on a free hit dispatched the ball for a massive 6 straight over the bowlers head and earned the second plate of food he had the night before. Ben Seary scored 25 not out from 43 balls and Ciaran scored 10, seeing TBSHS over the line in 31.4 overs.

This was a great opening match and a fantastic learning experience for the team. The Sri Lankan spinners dart the ball through at a quicker pace than we do in England generally and were also very sharp in the field. The aim is to build on this going in to our next match in a couple of days whilst also rotating the team around to get different boys to experience batting and bowling in these conditions. Mr Hale was delighted as it demonstrated that the training had paid off and also how well the players stuck to the task demonstrating good resilience and making good decisions. 

It also proved to be a happy birthday for Henry as well!