BACA U13’s Cricket - State County Cup Champions 2023 - Match Report

BACA U13’s Cricket

State County Cup Champions 2023

Sussex State School Finals Day: Thursday 29th June 2023

Squad: Neil ©, Oliver, James, Shiven, Jack, Edward, Alfie, Albie, Lewis, Ali, Diyon, Ralph

Teachers/Coaches: Mr. Latham and Jordan Shaw

Finals Day Report by: James, Lewis, Oliver, Neil, and Jack

Finals Day Report

Semi-final vs Sackville 10:15 Start:

The team started off with a general warm-up in the cold rain, with Mr Latham and Coach Jordan leading the way. As the warmup finished the captain, Neil went out to do the toss - he knew what we needed to do. The pitch was wet, which meant that we wanted to bowl first. Neil flipped the coin with Sackville’s captain called Tails but the coin landed Heads we had won the toss with Neil electing to bowl first.

The Match:

BACA got to their fielding positions and waited for the match to begin, Diyon bowled the first over which was tidy but no wickets, a very positive start. Lewis having the second over, he began the first two balls being good, but it was the third which struck the top of off stump taking a big wicket of the opener and dismissing him for only 4. The rest of the opening overs continued normally with runs flowing but not too quickly. BACA needed change with the Sackville opener scoring consistently, Neil made a decision to bring on the spinner, Oli at first the batsman couldn't play him but no wickets had fallen either, but on his third over Oliver sent the middle stump flying taking the huge wicket of the other opener. At this point, BACA’s heads were up with Sackville crumbling and getting all out for a just under par 116. The bowlers had bowled well with more wickets from Oli and Lewis. Diyon, Ali, Neil, and James had restricted Sackville’s batsmen with their wickets too. BACA’s chase was far from easy with an early wicket falling of James which meant Neil was now in and he and Oliver looked pretty settled but then an unlucky run out saw the end of Neil for 10. However, Shiven and Oliver took BACA over the line with a superb 50 from Oli and a supportive 41 from Shiven staying composed and playing some lovely cricket. We chased down 117 only losing 2 wickets. This meant BACA would be in the final with a chance at the win.

Final vs Blatch 14:00 Start:

Neil got us off to a great start winning the toss and choosing to bowl first on a pitch that would get better as the game went on with the weather improving. Lewis set the tone with an early wicket dismissing the opener, caught by the captain Neil.  They then had a little partnership before Ali got the other opener out lbw.  The captain brought himself on dismissing their captain as they were now 3 down before the first 10. James and Neil kept the middle overs tidy whilst Ali, Lewis, and Diyon finished off in the 18th over as Ali cleaned up their number 11 bowling them out for 104.

Oliver walked out to face up to the first ball of the innings starting with a 2 a solid start to the game. Blatch had a tidy first 6 but James and Oliver were still out there. Knowing they had a relatively small total to chase they were taking their time. A first bowling change came bringing the start of a spinner, our openers were set so they decided to take him on. They were really pushing the run rate now taking advantage of the small boundaries, our first wicket fell,

Oliver hit one back at the bowler to a good catch being dismissed for a well-made 47. Not long later James brang up his fifty with a boundary and finished off the game with a four finishing off with 59 not out. An amazing victory in the final saw BACA make 105-1 to beat Blatchington Mill by 9 wickets.

A piece from Mr Latham:

I could not be more proud of what this squad has achieved this season. To go to a finals day and be so clinical in their performances (Winning by 8 and 9 wickets in the semi-final and final) is about as good as it can get. Every single player within this squad should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. Cricket is a team game and at times throughout the day, every single player contributed and made ‘statements’-whether that was through the bat, the ball, or through some excellent fielding.  A favourite quote of mine from the day was from Blatchington Mill’s teacher who said "We will not come up against a better side than you guys. Every single student has just been exceptional".

Well done all for a fantastic day and achievement. The hard work has only just begun!