Cricket: Christchurch call the shots in county final at Parley (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cricket: Christchurch call the shots in county final at Parley

7:00am Friday 29th June 2012 in Youth Sport By Echo Reporter

CHRISTCHURCH will represent Dorset in the next round of the national under-15 trophy following their 32-run victory over Broadstone at Parley.

The early exchanges appeared to justify Christchurch’s decision to bat first with Jack Owens and his opening partner, Jishoden Padiachy, hitting some powerful shots back over the bowler’s head and square of the wicket.

The slow wicket, probably affected by the recent rain, meant that the ball did not come on to the bat and impeded scoring.

The run-rate was further deflated by two clever Broadstone spinners in Jack Fletcher and Josh Hanratty who deprived their opponents the opportunity of coming down the track with flatter, quicker deliveries.

At one point, only one scoring shot in 24 balls was managed by the batsmen, a six by Owens off Fletcher that strained the neck of the man at long on as he watched it disappear over the boundary.

With the score at 47 off 11, the innings appeared to be flat-lining with only the wickets column standing in Christchurch's favour as none had been lost.

Eventually Owens (36) succumbed, trying to get the score moving again, to perhaps the worst ball so far of the innings, top-edging a full toss to mid-on. He was soon followed by Padiachy who perished in a similar vein.

Rob Boulton (26*) joined John Wedge at the stumps and kick-started the scoring again to get the Blue Caps up to 103 with support from Tom Marsh.

Owens and Marsh opened the bowling for Christchurch and dismissed the openers quickly.

Wedge joined the attack and reduced Broadstone to 22 for four in six overs.

Hope flickered for Broadstone with a stand of 32 for the next wicket between Ben Griffiths (17) and Christian Metcalfe (18), but it was quickly snuffed out by Niall Pearce (four wickets) and Padiachy (two).

Pearce bagged a hat-trick to leave the visitors beached on 71 all out.

Christchurch go on to represent Dorset in the next round against the champions of Somerset.