The thrills and spills of the Shrewsbury Festival - Part 2

Shrewsbury Festival DAY 4: The team rises to new challenges and comes to terms with Pitch 2

The much anticipated match against Northamptonshire – the team whose boys looked most closely matched to ours in ability. Both teams had to contend with the uneven bounce of Pitch 2, which by day four had become all the more ‘variable’. All credit to Shropshire’s top six (of Jenkins, Bland, Home, McDonald, Peers and Parton) who, facing an attack brim-full of speedsters, received deliveries which variously skidded through at calf height or ballooned out of the reach of any flailing bat. Their respective scores of 30, 23, 32, 20, 10 and 23 set the platform for a respectable total of 223 for 8.

The required rate of just under five runs per over was, on paper, eminently achievable. However, the quixotic nature of the pitch conspired against the Northamptonshire batsmen. All of Shropshire’s bowlers presented their deliveries with economy. The run rate began to climb and with it the pressure to mount. Northamptonshire’s Reynolds can count himself unlucky: In the eighth over he fair walloped the ball into the covers – it had four written all over it. However, the leathery projectile somehow found itself stuck in the outstretched fingers of a leaping Toby Egerton. With this jaw-dropper of a catch Shropshire’s Under 12s opened their account. Thompson and Josh McDonald were each to take two wickets, as was Jack Home, who was to add a run out to his haul. Fittingly it was Toby who, in the thirty sixth over, was to snaffle the last of the Northamptonshire wickets. A solid team effort and a convincing win for Shropshire, by 83 runs.

Shrewsbury Festival DAY 5: Oxfordshire’s bull has clearly has horns but can Shropshire’s loggerheads (aka jaguars) roar?

The final day and the exciting prospect of facing new opponents in Oxfordshire’s under 12s. At the end of a busy week the question was less ‘how much were our boys up for it’ and more ‘how much is there left in the tank’. At the end of the 24th over the answer to the latter question was all too clear. Oxfordshire were just two down and were going along at 6.6 runs per over. They already had 160 or so on the board and their supporters were in full voice. Amongst the Shropshire parents the resigned mutterings were of the forlorn hope of restricting Oxfordshire to a sub-300 score. Being seasoned pro’s, the Shropshire coaches recognised the malaise. It had been a long week, the clear blue skies, sapping heat and late nights had taken their toll - the boys were dead on their feet. And so they were. They were uncharacteristically quiet in the field, their efforts were laboured, they were virtually queuing up to be rested.

Then in the 25th over, out of the Salopian doldrums emerged Wilf Peers. Buoyed at recently having taken a catch Wilf, with Eddie Prideaux in support, put the mockers on the Oxfordshire innings. Each took a wicket and, crucially, checked the flow of runs. Eddie’s eight overs went at 4.12 runs per over and Wilf’s 3.8. The Oxfordshire supporters’ cheering was quietened to a babble. Though more expensive, Olly Parton cramped the run scoring in his own way – by taking wickets, three of them. These three bowlers did well in restoring a semblance of order, keeping the Oxfordshire total down to 263 for 7 off their allotted 45 overs: A significant total to chase down but at least these boys had clawed the game back sufficient to give their team a sniff of a chance.

In the fourth over of Shropshire’s innings, with the score at 13 for 2, the Oxfordshire supporters were back in full cry, sensing the imminence of an emphatic victory. However, just as England’s hopes for the test matches this summer hinge on the team’s ability to winkle out Virat Kohli, so all of the Oxfordshire players will have been aware that it would be Jack Home who would stand between them and victory. Ably supported by Oscar Cooke (17), Ben Thompson (21), Eddie Prideaux (31) and William Jenkins (11 not out), Jack occupied the crease from the second over and pressed on, scoring at a rate significantly greater than that of any of his team mates. Passing the figure that would render him the highest scoring batsmen in the tournament, cruising up and beyond the 100 mark, Jack finished unbeaten on 136. Initially considered a ‘slim chance’ distant target, Oxfordshire’s 263 was overhauled with six overs to spare. As this the most enthralling of contests ran on later than all other games, towards its close the boundary edges became more and more occupied. Jack and Jenko found themselves performing in front of a veritable crowd. Amongst their number was a Berkshire dad, sporting a distinctive white pork pie hat and (according to a couple of the Shropshire mums) ‘a fine pair of pins’. At close of play this soft spoken gentleman declared Jack’s to have been ‘an impressive knock’ – High praise indeed from one well qualified to know! A fitting way to close a hugely enjoyable, nay vintage tournament. The Shropshire under 12s did themselves proud. Those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed the thrills and spills along the way owe a great debt of gratitude to Darrell, Norman and Griff for their having guided and goaded their charges with such dedication and good humour. Well might they take pride in their team’s successes.