On a gloriously sunny day at Whitecliff Rec the 4's played host to Cheselbourne. Cheselbourne won the toss and chose to bat, Poole's old guard more than happy to hand the new ball to the spritely young 'uns on a hot day with Matt Williams and Flynn Rochford asked to the Dukes ball swinging early doors. They duly set about the openers with some tight length bowling, forcing the opening pair to go over the top if they wanted to score runs with both bowlers unlucky to have catches dropped early. Matt Williams took matters into his own hands, removing Cheselbourne's opener Kellaway clean bowled in the 7th over (a wicket maiden), Rochford remaining tight at the other end before Williams removed the other opener Ascott, mainly in thanks to the glue hands catching of Kirt Holland at first slip. It would be wrong to suggest that Holland put a hand out and it stuck, however given that the ball was edged to him quicker than ice cream was melting in the day's heat, we'll give Mr Holland the full credit the catch deserved and ensure that he continues to remind everyone about the catch at tea for season's to come until he has grandchildren he can tell about it.
Bowling changes came, partly due to bowling restrictions for the youngsters and partly due to the site of a tiny cloud in the Whitecliff sky raising the fear in skipper Power that he may not get a bowl should it bring a days worth of rain, Joe Cornick coming on at the other end and continuing the tight and tidy bowling regime of the juniors for the day. Power provided the next break through with the batsman nicking one into Phil Sansom's gloves before producing the ball of the day to deceive his next victim which had 'keeper, slip, short cover, mid on, mid off and the bowler in stitches, the variation ball the winner it seems. Youngster Joe Cornick then got himself in the batsmens area of the score book, bowling one batsmen before completing a wicket maiden, assited by a catch at short cover by the senior of the two Rochford's in Poole's side who was looking for time in the middle (dropped) for the day, another tidy catch diving forwards to a dipping ball and frightening all the dog walkers as he landed.
With Cheselbourne 61-6 at drinks, Poole were keen to dismantle the tail, however resilient innings from Gainey and Kelly saw them both carry their bats to the end of the innings despite the efforts of the bowlers. Kirt Holland and Rochford Senior kept things tight going for a combined 13 runs from 7 overs before the ball was put back into the hands of the youngsters who bowled magnificently all day and well enough to wrap up the innings, let down by catches going to ground. Billy Michael bowled a wonderful, accurate spell at the end joined at the death by Flynn Rochford who had 4 catches dropped on the day, one an effort of his own bowling that in reality saved 4 runs, Joe Cornick and Matt Williams. Death bowling will be a huge part of these guys cricketing futures and they are transitioning to adult cricket well, Cheselbourne managing 128-6 from their 35 overs
Following a wonderful Andy Milner tea in which Kirt replayed his catch 4 times, Poole looked to set about the total they had been set with Sansom and Finlayson striding out to open the batting, Phil Sansom setting about the opening bowlers before having his poles rattled by a ball that kept low. Cheselbourne's opening bowlers both kept up an accurate and probing lines with a little variable bounce making the Poole batters tentative about their work, credit must also go to the Cheselbourne 'keeper, braving donning a lid and standing up to the stumps when Poole players looked to bat out of their crease, even wearing a couple as the bounce on a length took a few by surprise.
Finlayson nicked off without scoring, Billy Micheal looked to show the batting talent he has before getting stuck in the crease and being bowled, with Power and Fawcett suffering similar fates. Rochford Senior was next to fall, caught at cover from another lifting ball before Rochford Junior had his stumps broken two balls in a row, the first a beamer called for no ball, before the second found the right length and yorked him, with Cornick and Holland also falling cheaply. A disappointing show with the bat from the 4's but credit again for the consistency the Cheselbourne bowlers found a length the troubled the majority, skittling Poole for 39. The poor form with the bat shouldn't overshadow the work put in with the ball by the Juniors however, especially given their calmness at the end of the innings and how well they bowled to their fields throughout the day.