U13 Tour 2021 – Day One

Match Report

Tiddington U13s’ maiden voyage to the West Country began in time-honoured touring fashion, with an afternoon spent watching it rain, before the patience and hospitality of our hosts and friends at Swindon CC led to a thrilling climax in the evening. 

Earlier in the day, Swindon batted first on a good, true wicket and showed from the very beginning that they were a side that meant business with the willow. Tiddington’s bowlers stuck to their task manfully, and despite many boys never having played 40-over cricket before, their heads never dropped. 

Harry Taylor was the first Foxes bowler to make a breakthrough, hitting the top of off stump having found just enough seam movement to beat the Swindon bat. There was to be no further reward until the final over of the innings, however, when one from Will Evans kept low to pin the batsman in front. 

Swindon finished their 40 overs on 230/2, with Tiddington learning a great deal about the different phases of a game, the dynamics of field setting and skills of “boundary riding” against set batsmen, and the challenge of staying in the field for almost three hours. All the boys can hold their heads high for their efforts, with Kit Kingsbury outstanding behind the stumps. 

Lunch break was greeted by the heavens opening, with a downpour that drenched the ground for a good hour, sending rivers of water running across the car park and leaving players and spectators alike grateful for the shelter of the 19th-century pavilion. The important matter of the BBQ tea was brought forward as the outfield and wicket ends dried, allowing us a 20-over run chase to a sporting target of 116. 

Monty Boyd and James Mackay got Tiddington off to a strong start, finding the third man boundary regularly as the Swindon bowlers offered width. They were both undone by Swindon’s siblings, legspinner Tom and keeper Hugh Fraser, before Wilf and Sam Edwards provided Tiddington’s own brotherly response. With the run-rate required rising, however, the Tidd boys needed to go for their shots and the inevitable cascade of wickets followed. 

Kit Kingsbury and Henry Peers found themselves needing 19 from two overs, but their positive intent kept the pressure on their hosts who gave away a number of overthrows, keeping the game alive. Kit was left needing six from the final ball for a super over, but a good yorker from Swindon’s Rakesh Venkat kept the final ball scoreless. 

Tiddington’s tour now moves on to play Thorverton at the Station Ground in the East Devon village in a T20 double-header on Tuesday – but we’ll definitely be back to play a talented Swindon side who played the game to a very high standard, and in a fantastic spirit.