By Matthew Harding in Adwalton

‘In World War II, the average age of the combat soldier was 26…in Vietnam he was 19’

Some of you of a certain age all know the next bit….’ni, ni, ni, ni 19….’

19 was also the number of runs Jim scored last night. You’ll forgive me for starting with that, but in many ways, Jim’s best knock as a Villager told us a lot about our boys and explained why we find ourselves loading kit bags, suncream and snacks into out cars and heading out to different grounds throughout the Summer.

It told us that, when you stick at something, it pays off. We’ve all had tears on the drive home. And tantrums when things go wrong. We’ve all watched that walk as the umpires finger is raised with no runs scored. Some of us have had that with the first delivery faced. The trudge back to the mark as the ball, once again, zips over the boundary rope. Dropped catches, misfields. Cricket can be a cruel sport. It’s a great game but it’s not an easy game. Some are naturals. Some have to really work at it. And have to deal with the disappointment and frustration that brings. But those moments make the good ones all the more worth it. And they teach the boys valuable lessons.

Yes, ultimately the U13s couldn’t get it over the line last night at Adwalton. Their pals suffered a similar fate away at Barkisland (will we ever play a home match again?). There was a lot to like about last night though. A great spirit, some great shots with the bat and real pace with the ball. We saw players who are starting to learn the craft of cricket. Setting a field, judging line and length, choosing what shot to play and when. There was a lot that was good on what was a perfect night for it.

Best of all though were the U11s that stepped up.

If you saw Jim and Dougie enjoying a well-earnt and much-needed glass of juice at the extra drinks allowed given the searing heat, you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was a ‘Dads and Lads’ game so big was the difference in height. But the juniors didn’t let size or age stop them.

It’s easy to forget how intimidating a place a cricket field can be at times. That didn’t stop those playing up last night. Joey showed real maturity with the bat (and earnt bragging rights in the Powe household as Henners didn’t trouble the scorers). Jacob stepped up to open the attack with Webby and had some real zip in his bowling. Dougie beat the bat with five of the six deliveries in his gem of a first over and Hugo clean-bowled Adwalton’s top scorer.

Lightcliffe’s 103 had always felt vulnerable as Adwalton began their chase, but as the game progressed and the temperature cooled, the match became tighter and tighter. The Villagers had got off to a perfect start with Webby clean-bowling their opener with the first ball of the innings. He wasn’t done and grabbed another in his second. Freddie got in on the act and Nico was desperately hunting a stumping at every opportunity. A run out was a fitting reward for his performance.

Lightcliffe were robbed of the usual double-figures knock from Rosie (the least said about that dismissal the better tbh). He put that disappointment to one side with solid fielding and a wicket. Henners showed real maturity with both his spinning and his field-setting.

As the overs passed, the result was far from certain. Seth stepped up in the 18th over. The support and encouragement he’d got from his teammates was brilliant. The look of concentration was impressive. And so were the deliveries. Dot. Dot. Dot. One wicket left. One run needed.

The wicket didn’t come.
The run did.

It wasn’t to be Lightcliffe’s night. It was a still a great night to be a Villager.