Brighton & Hove City Clubs XI U18

Report by John Bettridge

Junior Martlets (224-8 in 40 overs; H Moorat 100) beat Brighton & Hove City Clubs XI u18 (214-6 in 40 overs) by 10 runs

This game has always produced an exciting climax and this year was no exception. Harry Rollings won the toss for the Martlets and elected to bat. My appointment of a captain for the day clearly carries with it a curse as between them the three captains who have led the Juniors this season, all batsmen of note, have amassed three runs! Harry fell to one that kept low in the second over.

Josh Medley, the other opener, was joined by Harry Moorat, who carried on where he left off the previous day. They built a solid platform despite some very accurate seam bowling. Both began to score more freely playing a range of handsome shots. Sadly Medley ended up by being caught low down by the keeper just as he was really beginning to move. Moorat and Jack Fletcher-Price attacked the bowling to take the total beyond 100 at the half way stage.

Moorat continued and was joined by Tom Chalmers who hit lustily. Showing great powers of concentration Moorat, despite a quiet time in the nineties, navigated his way to a fine century of real style. In three games he has scored 208 runs; a Martlet find if ever there was one! A few quick wickets fell at the end as we tried to push the total as far as it would go, which was 224.

We were perhaps short of a seamer for our attack and the openers took a while to focus the radar but removed the one opener with the total on 24. There then followed a long stand of 120, although the three pronged spin attack restricted the scoring rate so that with ten overs to go 70 were still required. Will Collard with his leg spin was the pick of the spinners and conceded only 21 in his 8 overs. Joe White return to complete his overs and only conceded 9 runs in his last 3 overs. The rate required rose from 8 to 9 and beyond. By the last over 19 were needed. James Brahaut kept his nerve and we won through to clinch the victory.

For detailed information on each venue, please visit our Venues page