September 1st 2024, Lions U15 vs MIB U15

It had been touch-and-go as to whether this match would go ahead, with the forecasts of rain due to Typhoon Shansan making the decision to proceed on Friday a tough one, but in the end the decision was correct and the Lions and MIB managed to play a reduced 15 overs game with only one interruption from the rain.

This was also the first time the Lions and MIB had played at U15 level for 2 years, scheduling keeping the teams apart in 2023. The teams met twice in 2022 once in the league Semi Finals, when the Lions were on their way to becoming the Champions, and once in September where MIB were thrashed 176 - 34 (this match was also notable as it was the debut of Lions stalwarts George Loran and Nived Namibar).

MIB won the toss and chose to bat, Sam and Mantra opened the bowling. After scoring 26 from the first 16 balls it looked like MIB would be putting up a big number, but then Sam and Mantra both found their line - Sam taking the first wicket on the last ball of his second over, and Mantra taking 2 wickets in his second over. When Pratyush took a wicket in the 5th over it looked like a collapse was in store, but the next MIB batters Haziq and Radhesh dug in and ground out a joint 64 runs, Haziq retiring on 37 (maximum score reached) and Radhesh being removed by Pratyush when the ball hit him on the leg and then bounced off onto the stumps - bowled! Jamie and Juto bowled 2 nice overs each, Jamie giving no extras. New Lion Alfie also bowled well in his over, but he was very unfortunate to be bowling to Haziq who hit him to the boundary three times - Alfie`s economy does not reflect how well he bowled. The Lions fielding was also good with few errors, though there was a messed up catch with both Sam and Tasuku going for the same ball without communicating leading to the inevitable clash...somehow they both handled the ball before it hit the ground in what looked like a game of pass the hot potato! (the damage was limited, as Sam dispatched the batter a few balls later). in the end MIB put up a total of 124/5.

Juto and Pratyush opened the batting for the Lions, and did a good job standing up to a nice bowing attack. The pair communicated well and never looked at risk. Juto retired in the 6th over having faced the maximum number of balls, with Sam coming on to replace him. At the end of the 7th over the Lions had a score of 43 and needed an average of just over 10 an over to win. The 8th over went well, Pratyush hitting 7 runs, 2 runs coming from byes and 2 from wides, the 9th over as not as fortunate with only 1 run being scored. The 10th over saw the real change in the game with the Lions realising they could win and MIB starting to fear they could lose. At this point the wheels also started to fall off the MIB bowling attack, just as the Lions were getting fired up - a terrible combination; in the 10th the Lions were gifted extras on 7 of the balls, with Pratyush also hitting a no-ball for 6 and Sam and Pratyush running 5 from wides. The 11th saw Sam getting into his stride and hitting 11, and Pratyush retiring on 25 after facing the maximum number of balls. Mantra was unfortunately caught out in the 12th, being replaced by Kanato batting at number 5. Sam and Kanato then chased down the required score in the 14th over, with some good shots and good running from each in what proved to be an exciting end to a good game...and no runouts!

Stats: Highest scoring batsman : Sam (35), best batting strike rate : Sam (152), most wickets : Mantra & Pratyush  (2 each), best bowling economy : Sam (5).

Player of the Match: Sam

Team:  Alfie Loran, Ethan Williams (wk), James Smethers, Jay Davies, Juto Ball, Kanato Suehiro, Mantra Joshi, Patrick Mullane, Praytish Bist (Captain), Sam Robinson, Tasuku Imada.