After receiving a bye in the 1st Round of the 2011 County Cup the Year 8 boys got their campaign under way at home versus Grangefield School from Stockton.
Adam Scott called correctly at the toss and chose to bat first, Scott and Adam Hall soon took the score to 70 without loss after 6 overs, with Scott recording his first of what seems sure to be many half centuries.
After Scott’s retirement on reaching 50, the scoring rate slowed, as Hall continued to be watchful, whilst wickets fell regularly at the other end. Lewis Broom struck some lusty blows late on to take the score up to 127 for 7 of the allotted 20 overs.
After a short rain delay the Grangefield innings got off to a stuttering start as Scott and Broom bowled tightly to restrict the visitors to 20 off their first four overs.
Scott struck in his third over to remove Grangefields opening batsman, LBW with the score on 24, it looked at this stage that Dene would simply cruise to a victory, as the Grangefield batsmen struggled with the swing of Broom and the pace of Scott. However, things changed dramatically with the entry of the Grangefield number 3, a county player of undoubted talent. He proceeded to smash the ball to all parts of the Horden ground, taking the score from 24 for 1 off 6 overs to, 93 for 4 when he retired for the second 50 of the game. That retirement proved to be crucial, Grangefield’s other batsmen couldn’t cope with the Dene attack and capitulated to 98 all out. The retired batsman returned to the fray to hit ten from two balls, but was caught a ball later on the boundary attempting to clear the rope for the second time in three balls.
Final score Dene 127 for 7 (20 overs) v Grangefield 108 all out
Dene now take on Hartlepool’s English Martyrs School on Friday 24th June at Horden CC, 1.30pm start.
Pictured: Left Dene Year 8 Cricket Team, Right Adam Scott 51*
