Team
Manager under 13s:
Dean Oliver
07855 468087
Team Coach: Tom Marsh: 07905 808429
The final of the ECB U13 Worcestershire Final saw Barnt Green entertain Worcester Nomads, Captains Pinder‐Hampton and Cooper flicked the coin. Worcester Nomads called successfully
and elected to field allowing Barnt Green to take the first innings. Lamb and Clifford strode to the crease for Barnt Green ready to face the Worcester Nomads opening bowlers. Pinder Hampton
opened the bowling and after two loose deliveries got the ball in the right area and removed Lamb without scoring. This brought the Barnt Green captain Cooper to the wicket. After suffering the early
loss, Clifford and Cooper started to rebuild the innings with both patience and hard hitting and the score started to build
up some momentum. Lamb replaced Pinder Hampton and Hines replaced Badger
in an effort to restrict the Barnt Green batsmen but runs were still following steadily. Cooper continued his measured approach and completed his innings with a retirement at 30. A change in the bowling
saw a change in Nomads fortunes as Oliver had Clifford brilliantly caught by Pinder Hampton for 19 and
then in his next over removed Pabari for 6 with an excellent caught and bowled.
The removal of Pabari brought Masters to the wicket and Nomads started to see a more solid approach to the batting and struggle to contain Masters in his efforts to set a good target. Murphy was
brought into the attack to join Oliver but both fought hard to restrict Masters. The excellent fielding standards being set by Nomads ensured that Barnt Green's innings closed on 115, with Masters
finishing on 33. The pick of the Nomads bowlers was Oliver with 2-24 off 4 overs.
With a target of 116 to win, Worcester Nomads opening pair of Austin and Oliver strode to the wicket awaiting the first delivery from Lamb and it wasn't long before Austin had despatched Lamb
to the boundary to get the Nomads reply under
way. With the first over completed, Cooper opened against Austin and soon got through his defences and clean bowled him for 7. Oliver was then joined
by captain Pinder Hampton,
and together
they looked a formidable pairing. With good running between the wickets and careful shot selection the Nomads innings started to shape. With the score on 50,
Oliver miscued a pull shot and was well caught on the boundary by Masters for 19, this brought Williams to the wicket to continue the tempo that had already been set. In an effort to increase the run
rate, Pinder Hampton perished for 18, well caught by Cooper at mid-off. Barnt Green turned to Clifford to try and consolidate their early control of the innings but some poor bowling and some
excellent clean hitting by Williams saw the target appear much more easily achievable. Whilst Williams continued to attack the bowling, Nomads' Lamb was steadily finding his range. Williams brief visit
to the crease
helped continue to chase down the Barnt Green target. With the target getting closer, Murphy was caught in the deep by Clifford for 8 and Lamb was removed by Lee for 22.
With the target only 5 runs away, it was left to Badger and Jones to ensure victory for Nomads with 1.4 overs to spare and victory by 4 wickets. Worcester Nomads will now represent Worcestershire
in the County Knockout stages and will entertain the Staffordshire County winners in the next round.
