A few last minutes changes to the team meant LCC fielded no less than 6 juniors. Big thanks to Ethan Wood for rushing over from football, having helped his Sheffield Utd team thump Leeds 3 nil. Hedge Top won the toss and elected to bat first, on would turn out to be a wicket with inconsistent bounce.

Hedge Top got off to a brisk start, with Chris Terry & Sam Stobart finding the conditions a little bit tricky first up. A change of bowling saw an immediate impact, Matt B dismissing Sugden (30) with his first ball. Terry would strike next when he had Feraz (14) caught by Stobbart.

With Terry bowling through his 8 over allocation, off spinner James Lunn was introduced to the attack. Hedge Top at this point looked set for a big score. However Lunn and the returning Stobbart made big in roads through the middle order as Hedge Top went from 126 – 2 to 138-5. Lunn had Akhtar (20) stumped by Mark Horne. Stobbart removed the dangerous Faraz (1), having made 132 the day before was next out, with Owen Horne taking a contender for catch of the season, holding on to one hit with excessive force at cover. Stobbart would also remove opener Waheed (64) to leave Lightcliffe back in the game.

With runs becoming harder to find, backed up with excellent fielding display the visitors would take 3 more wickets. Brearley finished with 2-29 from his 8 overs. Will Sweeten, having recently changed to bowling of spin produced figures of 2-16 from his overs, this included another wonderful catch, this time by 14 year old Ethan Wood at long on. The hosts ended on 221-8.

Following a fine spread laid on by Hedge Top at the interval, Lightcliffe were ready to tray and chase down the total. Bruce Lunn and 14 year old Jack Anderson would opening the batting. Anderson (6) was dismissed early. This brought 13 year old Will Sweeten to the wicket, first ball he faced rose sharply from a good length and hits sweets flush in the adam’s apple. Appearing to be leaving the field injured, Sweeten did a u-turn and bravely returned to the wicket. He would go to top score with 35 from 31 balls, playing so wonderful shots in the process.

No one really got going for Lightcliffe, with Bruce Lunn (33) Mark Horne (29) David Heath (34) and Chris Terry (28) all making decent contributions and helping Lightcliffe close in on the total. With tense moments at the end it was left to 3 juniors to steer the side home. Ethan Wood (14), Sam Stobbart (18 not out) and Matty Brearley (5 not out) ensured Lightcliffe won by 2 wickets, with 5 overs remaining.

Lightcliffe are in league action next week when they travel to Blackley.

Match Report by Mark Horne