Another win for the Twos.

The 2nd XI lost no momentum over the half-term break, bracketing it with their second triumph of the season. Abberley Hall made the trip to Bilton Grange but the home team left with the spoils. With captain, Kaamil Walilay, doing his duty in the 1st team, stand-in leader Sam Bennett led win which was patient and mature.

Sam lost the toss and Bilton were put in to bat. It was a good toss to win, and Bilton struggled to get runs in the early overs. With the outfield damp, the boundary was hard to reach, and Abberley fielded well and chased with determination. After ten overs, the run-rate was less than 3. Opener Edmund Krarup stayed in and gradually consecutive batsmen began to push the rate up. The biggest innings came from Sebastian Jenks, who came in as the field began to dry. Sebastian knocked up a quick 33 to push the run-rate up, and those who followed kept it up. In the end, Bilton posted a respectable 134 of their thirty overs.

Taking the field, Bilton knew that they had to hold their catches in order to win. This they did. While the bowling was reliable, if not penetrative, the fielding was excellent, and it was the same Seb Jenks who held on to three of them fielding at square leg. Fergus Carmichael took four wickets, once again beating the opposition’s top run scorer with one of the few bowled wickets of the innings. Ben Barwell held a super reflexive catch fielding close in at mid-off. Abberley’s last wicket fell with their total on 57.

The team has developed very well this season, with players approaching the game thoughtfully and maturely. Short targets are being set and, sometimes, achieved. Catches are being held and the approach to fielding, batting and bowling is very positive.


Tags: Cricket, Prep, Sport