Match Report

Introduction
It was a day of nail-biting cricket as Overstone Park CC Under 19 and Loughborough Town CC Under 19 faced off at Loughborough Town CC Ground on September 10, 2023. In a match that had it all—from spectacular catches to an unbeaten half-century—the final outcome saw Overstone Park CC Under 19 emerge as the victors, defeating their opponents by 7 wickets.

The Toss and Loughborough's Innings
Winning the toss, Overstone Park CC Under 19 chose to bowl, setting the stage for Loughborough Town CC Under 19 to open the innings. The team managed to put up 100 runs on the scoreboard but were bowled out in 18 overs. A target of 101 was set for the rivals.

The Loughborough innings was a mix of highs and lows. While J Forknall showcased his skills with a well-crafted 39 off 36 balls, complete with four boundaries, the opening batsman, J Modhvadiat, got out for a duck. D Fanibanda, batting at number three, added a quick 26 off just 14 balls, hitting one six and four boundaries. However, wickets fell at regular intervals, and the team couldn't build significant partnerships except for the 37-run partnership between J Forknall and D Fanibanda. The innings saw five players getting out for single-digit scores, including J Modhvadiat, M Arna, A Farooq, W Stewart, and K Godhvadia.

Bowling Prowess: Overstone Park CC
Benjamin Sales had an excellent outing with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for just 24 runs. Justin Murphy and H Kshatri both captured 1 and 2 wickets, respectively, contributing to restricting Loughborough to a manageable total. Bertie Dunkley and Krish M Bhatt also pitched in with 2 and 1 wickets, respectively.

Overstone Park CC's Chase
The chase for Overstone Park CC Under 19 was led by a sterling performance from Benjamin Sales, who remained not out with 56 runs off 57 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes. Bertie Dunkley, however, got out for 7 off 5 balls. H Kshatri and Aditey Allam also chipped in, scoring 9 and 21 runs, respectively. Ram Patel remained not out with 1 run, ensuring the team crossed the finish line comfortably.

Loughborough's Bowling
On the bowling front for Loughborough, M Arna was the standout performer with 1 wicket for 13 runs in 4 overs. The rest of the bowling unit couldn't make much of an impact, with J Forknall and A Farooq going wicketless and giving away 27 runs each in their spells.

The Unsung Hero: Alistair Mclaughlin
A vital cog in the Overstone Park CC's machinery was their wicketkeeper, Alistair Mclaughlin. His wicket-keeping was impeccable, contributing to several dismissals that kept the pressure on Loughborough. Alistair was involved in catching J Modhvadiat and D Fanibanda, as well as stumping A Farooq, showcasing his versatility behind the stumps. His presence and alertness added another layer of difficulty for the batsmen, making him an invaluable asset to his team.

Conclusion and Summary of Scores
The match was an enthralling encounter between two competitive sides, but Overstone Park CC Under 19 managed to outclass Loughborough Town CC Under 19. The Man of the Match was Benjamin Sales for his scintillating all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 56 and taking 3 important wickets.

Summary of Scores:

Loughborough Town CC Under 19: 100 all out in 18 overs
Overstone Park CC Under 19: 101/3 in 18.4 overs

The game was a perfect blend of strategy, skill, and passion, displaying the potential that these young cricketers hold. Overstone Park CC Under 19 won the match, achieving the target of 101 runs in just 18.4 overs and with 7 wickets to spare, thanks to an all-round team effort punctuated by standout performances from Benjamin Sales and Alistair Mclaughlin.

The match served as a showcase of the talent and potential that the future of cricket holds, making it a day to remember for everyone involved.

Next week we off to Grantham CC to the regional semis finals then hopefully to the finals. Come on Overstone.