On a sunny Sunday morning, the day started with captain Dom winning the toss and choosing to bat. It proved to be the right decision as, to cut a 20-over story short, not a single wicket was lost during the 120 balls of Lightcliffe's innings. Which against a bowling line-up as packed as Batley, who are as good in the field as they are with the ball, is some achievement.

George and Jonty came in first to open and proved as reliable as they have been all season – both retired not out, both scoring five 4s. George H reached the 30-target first which saw Dom in at three and the skipper looked equally as poised as the openers, securing another five 4s in his innings – four of which came back-to-back in the 12th over. With Jonty retiring, Isaac came to the crease and scored just as well. He finished unbeaten on 27 – with a few more balls in the innings, he’d surely have retired not out too.

The top four on the card all getting about a run a ball, with 30 extras, and a useful couple from Ben who came in and only faced three balls but faced them well, earned Lightcliffe 153 from their innings.

It was a good score, but everyone knew that Batley had firepower in their batting line-up. We may have tried to forget, but our players remembered they scored 170 runs against us in just 16 overs in the league in June. Given that, nothing was predictable other than that this sport can so often be unpredictable.

How the visitors innings started would be crucial and after a tight over from Harry to start, Jack stepped up and struck first ball dismissing their opener for two. He wasn’t done. A second wicket fell just four balls later thanks to a simply sublime grab from George H. Definitely one of those that would be on the club’s 'catches of the season' highlights reel.

Taking two so quickly was absolutely crucial in stopping any momentum, and when Harry struck next over to clean bowl their second opener, it felt like they were going to struggle in the chase. So it proved as each and every bowler kept it tight, Isaac took some great stops behind the wicket and there were more wickets – 1 for Albie with another great catch from George S and 1 each for Jonty and Ben.

Credit has to go to Batley’s Jake who survived what felt like an onslaught at times to retire not out, but no-one else could put together a decent spell of scoring and by the end of the 20, Batley were 114/6 – 39 short.

114 is a decent number of runs in an U11s game, particularly up against quality bowling and some excellent fielding displayed by our young Villagers. But it was the momentum of remaining not out that was the real difference for Lightcliffe’s U11s and, though only 5 of our 11 had the chance to bat, the confidence of knowing the 6 were waiting in the wings able to score undoubtedly added to their confidence.

Cricket is a sport of individual performances but where results are only achieved as a team – and today there were some great individual performances, but more importantly it was a real team spirit and ethos that got the win.

Thank you to everyone who was there to support each and every player, and congratulations to our brilliant 11 for making it to the Final. There, we will meet Farsley CC with the winners taking home The Ernest Jones Trophy Under 11 2026. Bring it on!