There are some nights when things just click – with the bat, with the ball and in the field. Last night in Barkisland was one of them. An evening when all the hours of work at Friday night training came together with U9 supremo Rob Rose saying he ‘loved watching that come together tonight’. And, reader, let me tell you, that is not always his post-game reaction.

Lightcliffe were put into bat and that brought Luke and Bodhi to the crease. And then the fun began. 7-year old Luke, it’s fair to say, is never afraid to move to wherever the ball is bowled and whack it into the distance. And whack it he did. Again and again. Two 4’s and Two 6’s were hit in his 23 from 12, and although the scorecard won’t indicate as many runs for 8-year old Bodhi, they proved the perfect pair in a partnership you suspect the club is going to see a lot of in the years ahead.

Evie and Bessie, our inspirational pair, followed and kept adding the runs with some beautiful shots and brilliant running. Reggie and Jack were next up to keep the scoreboard moving. Then Reuben and Ted came in – and added 30 runs from their four over spell with some big hits and clever shot-making. Consolidation was the aim from Harry and Jenson – but they did more than that, they added a further 21 to conclude an innings of 156 runs for the loss of just four wickets – a net score of 336.

A big score, but as we found last week at East Bierley, that doesn’t mean much if the other team can also post a big score. And Barkisland had some good batters. But Lightcliffe’s bowling and fielding performance was classy and though 122 runs were scored, an incredible 14 wickets were taken.

It was one each for Luke, Bodhi, Jenson, Reuben and Harry, two for Jack and Reggie and a superb three for Evie whose death bowling would have killed off many a team. The wicket-taking was only half the story though, there were some great stops (and brilliant attempts and commitment) in the field and some outstanding catches for Bodhi, Harry and Luke.

But, with a women’s match taking place elsewhere on Barkisland’s beautiful grounds and in a year where we're so proud to having such a focus on girls' cricket at Lightcliffe, it’s fitting that 9-year old superstar Evie’s performance was a particular highlight. Her last over wicket - caught off her own bowling as she walked back to her mark, taken with the composed nonchalance that she has clearly learned from her brother, particularly delighted the crowd of parents, grandparents and friends.

Thank you to Rob, Dave and Nick plus our ever-present assistant coach U11 Dom for running a night when it felt like the U9s came of age – playing as a team, using the skills they have worked on for months, and bringing everything together for a brilliant win.