A Tale of Youth vs Experience
So to round off the U13 season there was much anticipation for the ‘grudge match’ of the year; the ultimate test of youth against experience, athleticism versus ‘seen better days or’ namely The Annual Lads V Dads’ match! It wasn’t about life and death, it was far more important than that! It was a battle royal; a battle to end all battles; a battle for ultimate bragging rights, but who would prevail – Lads or Dads – only time would tell.
The 5th September dawned dry and clear, fixture congestion meant an early 9.30am start to avoid a clash with the Annual Charity Match in the afternoon and the weather looked set fair at the start as it remained warm and dry. The match was a 20 over, ten-a-side affair after Matt and Paul Hornby had to pull out at the last minute due to illness. So under the leadership of Simon Mackriel, the Dads took on the might of a mixed junior squad including the current u15, u13 and u11 skippers, a county player and three District squad members – a dazzling array of young and athletic cricketing talent. The Dads were nursing at least two bad backs and a bad leg – clearly the Dad’s didn’t have a prayer.
So with 10 players on each side, the Dads invited the Lads to bat first. The Lads insisted on playing proper cricket rather than pairs cricket so the scene was set for a battle of epic proportions. The match was fixed at 20 overs a side and Dads would be encouraged to bowl at their offspring and vice-versa.
Ian Holdroyd and Hannah Maltby strode out into the middle to open the batting for ‘The Lads’ and Holdroyd Senior bowled an excellent first over at his son with Ian getting off the mark with an excellent cover drive from the fourth ball of the over. Hannah played with an excellent straight bat and defended resolutely to keep out the tame bowling of Mackriel Senior in the second over with Mackriel claiming a bad back and old age for his poor form.
However, it was not until the fourth over that the first wicket fell as Hannah was cruelly bowled by the ‘villain of the piece’ coach Andrew Ball, who was bowling with more swing than a 60’s disco. The fall of the first wicket brought Talal Ahmad to the crease and he immediately made an impact playing aggressively and scoring freely from the bowling of his father.
However, in the next over confusion reigned as a call for a quick single backfired and Mackriel Senior removed the bails at the non-strikers end to run out Ian Holdroyd after an impressive display from the U11 captain who scored 12 runs including 1 boundary. U13 skipper Ryan Ball was next into bat, and was quickly off the mark forming a strong partnership with Talal. Ryan stoutly defended a classic yorker from his Dad and was lucky not to lose his stumps after coming down the pitch and trying to hit his old man over the top for four, a mere layer of varnish was the margin of survival.
In an inspired bowling change by Skipper Mackriel Senior, Hudson Senior entered the attack and with the third ball of his first over Talal Ahmad was clean bowled by an excellent delivery for 15 runs including 2 boundaries. The third wicket bought Charlie Walsh to the crease however, having played the ball into the off side which was well policed by Maltby Senior, he called for a suicidal run which wasn’t there and Ryan Ball, running from the non-strikers end, was duly run out for 8 runs including 1 boundary and a cheeky dilscoop over an astounded Steve Hine behind the stumps from the bowling of Rob Bagshaw. Charlie was stumped soon after, coming down the wicket to Hudson Senior only for Rob Bagshaw crouched behind the stumps to remove the bails. Charlie scored 13 runs including two boundaries.
New batsmen Chris Hine and James Hudson were running out of overs, but Chris decided attack was the best form of defence, and set about the bowling in some style. A series of mighty blows including 4 boundaries and one enormous 6 saw him reach 25 runs in only 8 scoring shots after being dropped in the deep by veteran and Senior Coach Pete Maltby – to much applause and cheering from the balcony! Chris was eventually bowled by Rob Bagshaw who handed over the wicket keeping gloves to Hine Senior. Thomas Mackriel came in to bat as the ‘Lads’ looked to push the scoring on at the end of their innings and Thomas put in an impressive performance scoring 16 runs including boundaries before being brilliantly run out by a throw from Mackriel Senior with Steve Hine whipping off the bails.
That dismissal bought U15 captain Jack Pierce to the crease and he hit two enormous 6’s into the field off Maltby Senior putting on an unbeaten 16 with only three scoring shots. James Hudson also finished unbeaten on 8 runs including 1 boundary. Ziyad Azam did not bat but the Lads finished with a total of 131 runs for 7 wickets off their 20 overs. Most notable bowling performances from the Dads included Andrew Ball’s 1 wicket for 7 runs off 3 overs, and at the other end of the scale Rob Bagshaw with 1 wicket for 37 runs off 3 overs.
After a quick turn around, the Lads took to the field and the opening pair of Walsh Senior and Ahmad Senior carried the hopes of the Dads, with a target of 132 runs to win.  For the Lads, Charlie Walsh and Talal Ahmad opened the bowling as some light rain began to fall. First wicket to fall was that of Walsh Senior who enjoyed dispatching two excellent boundaries majestically off his son’s bowling to finish on 8 runs in total. The fall of the first wicket bought Azam Senior to the crease and with the assistance of a willing runner he batted with supreme authority and skill scoring 18 runs including 2 boundaries before asking to retire. The second ‘Dads’ wicket to fall was that of Ahmad Senior when Ziyad clean bowled him after he had added just two singles to the total.
 That dismissal bought Ball Senior into the fray who rode his luck early on, dropped by Chris Hine off his own bowling. That dropped chance proved expensive as he quickly set about the bowling in fine style, including a big legside six into the field off the first ball off his son’s bowling; which set the tone for what would prove to be the decisive innings of the match. Jack Pierce surrendered the wicket-keeping gloves and brought himself into the attack but no avail as he too was despatched to the boundary with a square cut by Ball Senior who retired on an unbeaten 30 runs including 4 boundaries and one 6 in an excellent display. Holdroyd Senior also batted well but was bowled by a great delivery from Ziyad Azam for 10 runs having scored 2 boundaries, and Hudson Senior and Hine Senior piled on the agony for the Lads as both batsmen retired unbeaten to give other Dad’s a chance. Mark Hudson scored 24 runs including 5 boundaries and Steve Hine scored 9 runs including 1 boundary as the Dads began to sniff the scent of victory.
These retirements saw Rob Bagshaw and Mackriel Senior take to the middle to finish off the run chase in style. Rob Bagshaw decided to be generous and holed out to Chris Hine off the bowling of Ryan ball having scored 7 runs including 1 boundary, to allow Maltby Senior to have a bat in the last over. After surviving an appeal for LBW on his first delivery (he was plumb), umpire Nick Hockin decided to give him a chance to face the last few balls. Mackriel Senior finished unbeaten on 3 runs and Maltby Senior finished unbeaten on 1 run, and the Dad’s finished on 142 runs for 4 off their 20 overs to claim a comfortable victory.
Notable bowling performances for the Lads included Talal Ahmad with 1 wicket for 1 run off 1 over, and Ziyad Azam with 2 wickets for 18 runs off 3 overs.
Man Of The Match Award goes to Najeeb Azam for one of the grittiest and most determined batting performances seen in many a year, just wait till next year when he is fully fit again!
After the match both teams enjoyed a hot dog and nibbles in the club house whilst the Dad’s sank a pint to celebrate a famous victory! Many thanks to Zoe Mackriel and Helen Walsh for preparing and laying out all the food to finish off what was a most memorable and enjoyable end to another successful season. Also thanks to Simon Mackriel for organising the entire event.
Thank you to all those who turned out for both sides and for the excellent spirit of competitiveness and fun which both sides displayed, and finally congratulations to the Lads for accepting defeat without too much complaint.  Roll on next year’s match!
Scorecard: http://lilleshall.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11100935
September 10, 2010
Posted in: Friendlies
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