U13s edge out Bashley in last ball drama!

Sway travelled to Bashley’s in the Hampshire Cup - played in The Hundred format which took a little head scratching about how it works for junior games!

The home side won the toss and elected to bat first. Bashley prodigy Adam Bourne was in imperious form - trusting the surface and hooking a pulling any quick short stuff. Despite bowling well Sway were unable to stop Bourne retiring unbeaten on 30+ in no time.

It was then the Sway bowlers turn to get into the box seat - the 4-man pace team of skipper Arjun, Max Davis, Ossian Badami and Edward Goulding were all hitting just the right length, ably supported behind the stumps by Hugh McIlroy who let nothing through.
Sway then took some pace off with useful overs from Lawrence Warner, Ryan O’Mara and Luca ball who picked up the first wicket of the season after Davis took a superb low catch as short mid on.

Sway then tightened the screw - their athleticism in the field was in a different league to Bashley and the bowlers gave nothing away - at one point there were 15 balls in a row as the Bashey worm was pronounced dead on arrival!

Arjun picked up a couple of wickets with his inswingers and Bashley barely managed any acceleration thanks to a top final over from Davis and finished up un a rather sub par 95 off their 100 balls.

Sway’s tactic with the bat was to see off the Bashley top line bowlers and keep their big hitters in hand. This was pretty much accomplished with a half decent run rate, and despite losing Davis, Sway were pretty much in control when Ines retired after facing 50 balls.
Sway then looked to accelerate. The entrance of big hitting Sam Tilier-Wood and a bit hit to the boundary forced the home side to use up another over of Bourne - who to be fair produced an unplayable rapid yorker to bowl Sam.

Sway needed about a run a ball off the last 30 balls with wickets in hand. Bashley gave it everything they could finishing up with all their quicks, but whilst boundaries were hard to come by, Sway’s version of the GB 4x100 relay team- Warner, Bulmer, O’Mara, and Badami showed the benefit of all the work over the winter - lightening singles forcing errors in the field as panic set in.
Nevertheless, Sway still need 4 off the last 5 balls to win with Bourne firing down so good stuff outside off stump. A quick single was followed by a run out - so 3 off 3 needed- as the crowd held their breath, 2 byes and leg bye off the final ball saw Sway home!
Great game and probably closer than it should have been given Sway’s grip on the game, but as always Bashley are competitive to the last and put up a hell of a fight!