By Kevin Boniface, Head of Hockey

On Wednesday the U14 cricket side hosted Mountbatten School in the ESCA National One Day Competition.

Having lost the toss, Bedales were put in to bat and got off to a blistering start with Jac Wheeler scoring 18 from eight balls, but this was to be short-lived as he top edged one to the keeper. This brought captain Zach Stewart to the crease to join Huw Wheeler, who was looking in imperious form. A solid partnership ensued, with Bedales reaching 82.

However, the demise of Zach, pulling a short delivery straight into the hands of the square leg, signaled the start of a batting collapse.

Huw Wheeler was soon to follow, having scored an impressive looking 69. Unfortunately there was not much resistance from the Bedales middle and lower order, other than a wonderfully creative and entertaining innings from Elio Mazas (28), and Bedales were bowled out for 154 from 26 overs. The home side knew they were going to have to perform well with the ball and Jac Wheeler stepped up to the mark, clean bowling two of the Mountbatten top order.

The game then turned on its head with the Mountbatten side batting sensibly and punishing any loose deliveries. With momentum shifting, Zach Stewart picked up the crucial wicket of the Mountbatten opener, tempting a drive into the safe hands of Jac Wheeler in the covers. At the end of his eight over allotment, Zach had finished with incredibly impressive figures of 1-21.

Twenty-two overs in, the match was finely balanced with Mountbatten 106 for four, but the game ended in an abrupt manner as the Mountbatten side had to leave suddenly. With Bedales ahead on the run rate, they progress through to round two.