The U11 Yellow team overcame a howling Northeasterly and Hook & Newnham CC by 46 runs to get their season up and running at Parsonage Meadow yesterday.

Losing the toss and being asked to bat first is always a tough assignment on the first day of the season, and so it proved with WCC's new openers both back in the hutch within the first three overs. Then came the first of two great rebuilding efforts with captain Percy and Fred batting sensibly to drag the score up to 50 after 8 overs. The second fightback came after WCC lost Percy and the destructive Madeleine in the the space of four balls and Fred shortly afterwards reaching the retirement score of 30. (Great hitting from the young man). Henry coming in at 6 batted for 36 balls to shepherd the tail to a respectable score of 115-6 off 20 overs. A triumph to bat out 20 overs in their first match of this format.

Taking the field for their defence of 115, Whitchurch knew that they had a chance, and so it proved. With ice in their veins the WCC bowlers tore into the Hook top order with Fred (2), Percy, Madeleine and Henry all rattling the timbers to have Hook five down in the first eight overs. Then came the moment of the match. Out strode Hook's gun batter and promptly caressed three glorious fours through the off side. WCC's fielders' applied the squeeze and feeling starved of the strike he risked a quick single as the ball shot out to debutant Dillion. Quick as a flash, Dillon gathered the ball.. took aim.. direct hit.. out! Mobbed by his teammates, epic. Dillon then turned a good day into a day out, when three overs later he executed another direct hit runout and then clean bowled the final Hook batter to seal the win.

What an incredible game made even better by the great teamwork and sporting behaviour throughout. All the dismissed batters were welcomed from the field by their teammates and every time someone struggled with their bowling one of the teammates came to encourage and help them. We can teach the children cricket but we can't teach that attitude. Amazing.

The Spirit of Whitchurch Award went to George, who after a nervous start with the ball showed tremendous bravery to carry on and bowl an excellent two over spell.

Next up we have Eversley CC, if we can every find a date that works for both teams.