Bacup v Rawtenstall U15s match report

Monday 2/6/25

Rawtenstall: 138/1

Bacup: 138/2

Weather: Sunny

Temperature: Jumper required

A new month, an old opposition. Bacup U15s made the short journey to their nearest and dearest opposition at The Worswick Memorial Ground in deepest darkest Rawtenstall on a surprisingly sunny evening in June. Having won the toss, Rawtenstall elected to bowl.

Rawtenstall made a sedate start against the twin pace pairing of Isaac Greenwood and Xander Taylor. As always, the limited number of fielders and wide spaces of 8v8 allowed easy singles, but both bowlers bowled tightly – each only going for one boundary in the opening spell. These two were replaced by U15 debutant Luca Kent and Jake Sercombe. Luca’s first ball went for 4, but the remainder of his over caused the batsmen trouble and only one single was scored. His next over went for only 1 run from the bat too, great to see on first U15s outing. Jake was miserly at the over end for his two overs, just 8 runs from them. Rawtenstall 42-0 (8)

The two Rawtenstall batsmen recognised the need to increase run rate and this began in the 9th over. The always dangerous M Entwistle opened his shoulders hitting Luca for a couple of boundaries in the 9th, while at the other end Z Tipton began piercing the field too versus new bowler Phoebe Williams. M Entwistle retired after 10 overs 40 not out The acceleration was just getting into full throttle, when Andrew Brien replaced Luca in the 11th Over. Having not bowled competitively this year, Andrew bowled straight and fast, too fast in one case for Z Tipton (21) who had his middle stump clattered for the only wicket of the innings.

With two new batsmen at the crease, the rate decreased once more, with Andrew and Phoebe only going for 4 runs off the next two overs. Not for long however, as their next two went for 16. Despite this, it seemed that Rawtenstall were not scoring as freely as they could, and a further tight over from Mason Hayhurst (3 runs) left the home team at 92-1 (16). With wickets in hand, Rawtenstall attacked each remaining over with gusto, Isaac, Oliver Parkinson, Mason and Jake all going for double figures. In the final over S O’Conner hit successive boundaries to bring up his 40 not out(34) just before the close. 138/1

Bacup had a new opening partnership with Andrew Brien joining Jake Sercombe at the crease. Both started positively against the Rawtenstall bowlers, but unfortunately Andrew fell for 9 in the 3rd over being bowled by N Ashworth. Xander Taylor joined Jake and continued the scoring above the run rate, 35-1 (4 overs). Rawtenstall looked to bring back control at this point, with their lead pair of bowlers both sending down 3 overs between 5-10s. Jake and Xander coped well with this period but the scoring rate dipped with only 2 boundaries in 6 overs. At the half-way mark Bacup had reached 60-1, 79 needed for victory.

Xander Taylor picked up the run rate in the next few overs, hitting 4 boundaries while Jake steadily accumulated at the other end. This game was always going to come down to a tight run chase and the impetus at this point was required, Bacup reaching 102-1 (14) 39 needed from 6 overs. S O’Connor returned to bowl his last and tightest over, during which Xander reached his well batted 40 not out. Further tight bowling retricted Bacup once more. 24 required from 3 overs.

Mason Greenwood looked to be the man to take the game away from Rawtenstall in the 18th, hitting successive boundaries from the first two balls. His aggression was sadly his downfall as he missed the next ball to be bowled for11. With Jake reaching his 40 not out in the same over, this left new batters Phoebe Williams and Luca Kent to face the final two overs. Luca hit a 4 in the 19th over as 7 were scored. 6 needed from the final over, as the sun was setting. No pressure there then.

The finale

Rawtenstall selected M Entwistle to bowl the final over of pace. A dot ball followed by 2 by Luca, 4 required from 4. A bye through to the keeper. 3 required from 3. A dot ball. 3 required from 2. Another bye to the keeper. 2 required from 1, nearly a run out at the bowlers end. With all parties being aware of the situation, the final ball was bowled. Phoebe set off running in the bowlers delivery stride and raced to the batters end. Luca missed with the bat and ball went through to the keeper. It was then a foot race between keeper and Phoebe, with the bat breaching the crease just before the keeper broke the stumps. Luca made his ground at the other end.

The result of this dramatic finish was a well played tie between two competitive teams. Sometimes a tie is the right result. Try telling that to the players though 😊