Kidlington under 13s find a way to play Joe Coggins

Kidlington under 13s faced Cropredy for the third time this season, looking for a win at last. Kidlington won the toss and decided to bat first, looking to employ all the batting practice we had done since Joe Coggins took 8 wickets for one run against us two weeks ago. Joshua Behal and Toby Earp opened the batting and raced away in the first few overs until Josh was run out in the third over for 12, attempting a quick single. Toby Earp had a brilliant innings, ably supported by Neil Talmaki, hitting seven fours along the way before being bowled by Dixon in the 8th over leaving Kidlington at a healthy 52-2. The loss of Toby's free hitting pegged back the run rate, as did Neil Talmaki's unlucky fall LBW for 4 and Jacob Evans bowed for 0, both to Sam Coggins in a double-wicket maiden. Very pleasing was how well Neil, Toby and Elijah played against Joe Coggins, using their feet very well to come back and forward to his bowling. Elijah was stumped off Joe's bowling for 1, but it was his only wicket this time! After this swift fall of wickets, Aaryan Jagnani and Sam Fransham had a partnership worth 24 runs, Aaryan playing defensively at one end whilst Sam hit freely from the other end. After Aaryan was run out for 1, Sam and Marko Babic had a quick fire 30 run partnership, Sam hitting 4 fours in his 22 not out and Marko hitting the last ball for a boundary, ending on 8 not out. Kidlington posted their top score of the season, 110-6. Pick of Cropredy's bowlers were the two Coggins lads Sam (3-2-1-2) and Joe (3-2-5-1).

In reply Cropredy were initially pinned down by some great opening bowling by Sam Fransham and Elijah Clarke, but Fergus Lynch started pushing along the run rate from the third over with some excellent running between the wickets. Joe Bennett supported Fergus from the other end, being bowled by Sam in the 5th over. Sam Coggins joined Fergus at the wicket and the two of them played very freely, adding 30 runs in the next 5 overs, before Fergus paid the price for his ambitious running and was victim to an excellent run out by Max Earp. Sam was joined by brother Joe and the two of them really pushed along, Sam retiring on a 32 that included 5 fours. This left Cropredy needing two more to win, achieved by Josh Perry hitting a boundary which saw Cropredy over the line in the 16th over, Joe Coggins not out on 16. Pick of Kidlington's bowling was Sam Fransham (3-0-12-1) and Josh Behal (3-1-15-0).

We were unlucky not to get a win out of this one - a couple more wickets to slow the run rate down and we would have had a good chance of a victory. Some sharper fielding might have also helped - although Cropredy let a few through too. Most pleasing was the big improvement in our batting and confidence in playing spin - it looks like the practice has paid off.

Kidlington's player of the match was Toby Earp for his smashing 28 (all off boundaries!); Cropredy's player of the match was Sam Coggins for his 32 retired and double-wicket maiden.

Many thanks to Michael Behal for umpiring and to Fay Earp for supplying the half-time biscuits! Next 11-a-side is at Bletchingdon on Wednesday 27th June.