On a chilly morning, with the effects of heavy overnight rain still lingering, Didcot U11s faced Cumnor in a gripping contest that once again went down to the final over. After losing the toss, Didcot were sent in to bat on a sluggish pitch, which proved tricky throughout the day.

The surface, damp and slow, made strokeplay difficult. Didcot’s troubles began early as they lost an opener in the very first over. The other opener narrowly survived, thanks to two dropped chances by Cumnor. Despite efforts by Jovin Nagularapu (14) and Jerry New (10) to build a stand, tight and disciplined bowling from Cumnor ensured that wickets fell at regular intervals. At one stage, Didcot were reeling at 35-5.

Amidst the collapse, Samar Wadhwa stood firm with a gritty unbeaten 13. Showing patience and waiting for the rare loose delivery, he shepherded the tail effectively, helping Didcot post a total of 74-8, a modest but potentially defendable score on a testing pitch.

Cumnor began their chase with relative comfort, but Didcot soon adapted to the pitch conditions. The breakthrough came via a brilliant direct hit from Benedict Howman Bett, lifting Didcot’s energy in the field. Japji Kaur bowled with great control, while the team fielding effort was noticeably sharp.

Samar Wadhwa added to his performance with a sharp direct-hit run-out, and Hrim Kaptel picked up two crucial wickets to put the pressure back on Cumnor. Jerry New and Oscar Cox-Rogers chipped in with one wicket apiece, turning the match into a tense affair.

As the game headed into the final over, Cumnor needed just 2 runs to win. With the fielders closing in and the pressure mounting, Didcot made appeals for LBW, but they were turned down. In a heart-stopping finish, Cumnor managed to scramble two leg byes in two balls to clinch victory, leaving Didcot once again heartbroken in a match that slipped away by the slimmest of margins.

While the result didn’t go their way, it was a pleasure to watch Didcot’s fighting spirit, sharp fielding, and their ability to take the game to the very last over. It was an inspiring display, clear proof that this team never gives up.

Player of the Match: Jerry New
I-Scream Moment: Two rare sloppy moments in the field, where the ball was mis-fielded, could have cost Didcot dearly. But in a twist of fate, sharp backing up on both occasions turned disaster into delight, resulting in two run-outs that kept the match alive. Fielding chaos turned into fielding brilliance!