U13s report

Bacup U13s Narrowly Fall Short in Opening League Encounter

Bacup Under 13s experienced a defeat in their first league match of the season, losing by just two runs in a closely fought contest against East Lancs.

The Bacup innings began brightly, with opening bowlers Xander and Luca setting a disciplined tone. Their tight lines and lengths were rewarded early on with a crucial wicket, putting East Lancs on the back foot. This early pressure was well supported by the consistent efforts of fellow bowlers Harrison, Charlie, and Emily, who all bowled with control. Louie also contributed to the wicket column, while Mason’s quick thinking resulted in a stumping.

Despite the early breakthroughs, East Lancs managed to build a platform, with their opening batsman retiring unbeaten on a well-compiled 30.  However, just as Bacup appeared to have contained the innings, a powerful late surge from an East Lancs middle-order batsman, who blasted a quick-fire 31 off just 19 deliveries, shifted the momentum and propelled the visitors towards a more substantial total. Unfortunately for Bacup, their fielding performance wasn't as sharp as desired, with a number of dropped catches proving costly and allowing East Lancs to reach 103 from their allotted 18 overs.

Undeterred by the target, Bacup’s reply began steadily with openers Harrison and Andrew showing resilience against the East Lancs opening attack. Harrison played with composure and accumulated runs with some well-executed strokes before retiring on a valuable 30.  Zach and Xander both contributed with solid double-figure scores, keeping Bacup in the hunt. Mason was unlucky to be dismissed, caught in the deep, with the ball landing tantalizingly close to the boundary – a couple of yards either way would have resulted in crucial runs.

In a tense final few overs, Louie, Luca, and Seb showed great determination in their attempt to chase down the required runs. The equation became particularly challenging, needing 16 runs from the final over. However, an electrifying start to the over saw an improbable 8 runs scored off the first ball, igniting hopes of a dramatic victory. Ultimately, despite their valiant efforts and a nail-biting finish, Bacup fell just two runs short, ending their innings on 101.

This opening fixture, while ending in defeat, showcased the fighting spirit within the Bacup Under 13s team.  Lessons in the fielding department will undoubtedly be learned, and the team will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches.