Portsmouth & Southsea Cricket Club

Portsmouth & Southsea Cricket Club News story


U16 Indoor Season Round Up - Champions!

01 Mar 2015

With a side made up primarily of U14's our expectation this year was that it would be a year to build confidence and improve our skills without pressing the more senior sides too hard. To say we had realigned our sights towards the end of our campaign was an understatement.
Our record of Played 9, Won 8 sees us sitting, unassailable at the top with 2 weeks of the season still to go. 
The key to much of our success was our preference to set totals. While doing so meant we ran the risk of being skittled, it never happened and it allowed us use scoreboard pressure to see us through. This plan saw us collect maximum batting points in every game played with a run rate of 12.53 being the highest across all divisions.
Much of this was due to Harry Gadd's prolific scoring. His total of 277 in only 7 digs has him currently sitting proudly at the top of the aggregate lists some 40 runs above his closest rival. Harry was well supported by the younger lads with Ollie Kanavan (210), Harlan Randell (187) and Daniel Cox (113) all making considerable contributions. Both Henry James and Daniel Turner had occasions when they fell for the cause but equally both made crucial contributions a number of times. In addition to our most regular 6, our thanks also go to Will Donworth and Harry Wratten for the efforts they put in when turning out for us. An honourable mention must also go to young Freddie Gadd who wasn't fazed by playing at this level and will clearly be a force to be reckoned with in years to come.
While it was our batting that set us up, our bowling and fielding rarely let us down. Harlan led the way in the wickets column with 8, Harry came next with 6 and Dan C one further back. While they take deserved plaudits, Dan T's pace, bounce and consistency clearly rattled many an opposition bat and Henry, while bowling fewer overs, had the happy knack of picking up key wickets. Our fielding stats make good reading too with very few dropped catches springing to mind. Harry hung on to 6, Harlan 3, Dan T 3 and Henry and Dan C 1 each. Ollie spent the whole season standing up to all comers having 2 stumpings to show for it. Our ground fielding also set us apart with 16 run outs all year: spread Harry 6, Ollie and Harlan 3 each and the Dan's 2 a piece.
For me what was most pleasing about the season was how the boys own expectations grew with their confidence and how they responded to our only defeat. From then on we collected maximum points from our last three games - two of which were against top of the table sides.
My thanks go to ever present scorer Tony Randell for his number crunching, pertinent comments from the sidelines to keep the lads thinking and his enthusiastic support. Similarly thanks to all supporters and taxi providers. (They may not have said so but the boys are grateful too!) ;-)
And finally my thanks to all the players who were, as always, a pleasure to manage and who's positive attitude has again been commented on by umpires and opposition alike.   
Congratulations boys - deserved Champions.

SK  
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