Following a rained off fixture the previous Sunday, Bredon welcomed Cookhill to Hill Close on Wednesday evening.
The visitors won the toss and asked Bredon to bat, and the home side responded by posting an imposing 302-2, with circumspect defence and positive running between the wickets a feature of what was the team’s best batting performance of the season.
Cookhill batted well in their reply, but were held back by tight bowling and fielding from the Under 12s and finished up on 250-7.
Then, on a warm and sunny first Sunday in July, Ashton-under-Hill were welcomed as the visitors for the semi-final.
In a well-contested local derby, Bredon were once again put into bat, and continued the form from earlier in the week by reaching a score of 300-1.
For a time Ashton were up with the rate, but Bredon held their nerve and bowled and fielded with great skill in the second half of the innings to restrict the visitors to 236-6 and make it to their first final.
The plate final is on Sunday, July 16. Venue and opponents to be arranged.
The boys batted first with such confidence, taking the bowling apart and keeping the run rate ticking over with great running between the wickets.
The team scored their highest total for the season.
They came out to field in high spirits, with a great opening attack taking early wickets to put the visitors on the back foot with some great catching skills.
They stuck at it, not losing focus on the job in hand and securing the semi-final position.
Well done to the Under 13s, who played as a confident team with plenty of enjoyment and focus.
It is June. We are about halfway through the season, and it is turning out to be such a good one for Bredon Cricket Club.
Senior teams
Our First XI are enjoying a first-rate season and are currently top of the league
The First XI are riding high in the Worcestershire County League’s second division, having lost just one game so far, while the Second XI are also playing well and currently lie fourth in the third division.
The Third XI continue to act as the club’s development team, giving our youngsters valuable match time with more experienced players.
Junior teams
All our junior teams are continuing to develop well
All our junior teams (the Under 11s, Under 12s, Under 13s and Under 15s) are performing well in the Cotswold Hills League.
Meanwhile, the club is running the ECB-backed All Star Cricket programme for younger children for the first time this season. It means the club is now developing players through from five years to adult.
New coach
Tom Walsingham is welcomed to Bredon by first team captain Kevin Wilkins
The impact of our new coach, Tom Walsingham, who joined us at the start of the season has been immediate.
Our senior teams are performing better, and Tom is passing on his experience to the youngsters at both the All Stars sessions and junior coaching on Friday evenings.
We have also gained the services of former Gloucestershire batsman and wicketkeeper Andy Stovold, who will be helping with our Friday evening junior coaching sessions.
Practice nets
Our nets renovation project has been delayed, but work is set to start soon
Plans to renovate the club’s practice nets have been delayed by factors beyond our control, but finance is in place for the project and it is hoped to start work soon. The club was given £1,000 from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme to help pay for the project.
Tower Run
The first Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 was a big success
The run (pictures here) was held for the first time on May 28 and was a big success.
It is planned to make the run an annual event and build it into a key plank in the club’s programme of fund-raising activities. Next year’s run is on Sunday, May 27, 2018.
Bredon Hill Bash
Looking ahead, we are taking part in an exciting new competition in August.
The Bredon Hill Bash is a 20-over tournament for local teams, the winners of which will be presented with a magnificent trophy.
Bredon’s first game, against Overbury, is on Sunday, August 6. The match starts at Hill Close at 2.30pm.
End of season
June is far too early to be talking about the end of the season, nevertheless club members should make a note in their diary: the end of season dinner is on Saturday, September 23… and this is looking like it might be a year to celebrate!
More details nearer the time.
Thank you, everyone, for your continuing support for Bredon Cricket Club.
Spectators at this afternoon’s friendly between Bredon Cricket Club and Bredon AFCSpectators at this afternoon’s friendly between Bredon Cricket Club and Bredon AFC
Bredon Cricket Club triumphed over Bredon AFC in a 20-over friendly at Hill Close this afternoon.
The cricketers, batting first, posted 128, while the footballers were all out for 108.
The fixture was played in its usual good spirit, and there was a lively crowd of spectators.
“He was a regular opening partner for the Test batsman Sadiq Mohammad and he also kept wicket until the emergence of Jack Russell.
“He was awarded his county cap in 1976 and a benefit in 1987. He joined the county’s coaching staff upon retirement.
“Since 2010, he has been head coach of the University of Bristol Cricket Club, alongside other coaching commitments.”
Andy took part in his first coaching session at Hill Close last Friday (June 23).
His expertise is an addition to the positive impact club coach Tom Walsingham has had on playing standards at Hill Close since his arrival this season.
