Wellington’s youngest youth team came so close to victory at their first attempt when they were just pipped by Ashbrittle at The Playing Field on a fine Sunday morning.

Charlie Crossley inserted the visitors and fine early bowling from George Davis, William Box, Crossley himself and Alex Acton meant Ashbrittle had moved to 216 after 4 overs.

Mungo Fasham was next into the attack and brought about the first wicket followed by Lucy Adams and Monty Caygill who were bowling in a match for the first time.

As the batsmen looked to accelerate Davis returned to the attack and three wickets in an over kept the score down to 216 at the halfway stage.

Late order runs, as the bowlers tired, meant a total of 244 would be needed when Wellington went out to bat.

Robin Hill must be commended, on a fine first go behind the stumps.

Runs were hard to come by as the visitors top bowlers bowled a good line and length, but when Box struck 3 consecutive boundaries, at the halfway stage,

The ‘Blacks’ were in the box seat, on 221.

The last eight overs were nip and tuck and going in to the last over five runs were needed for victory….

Ashbrittle had kept an over back from their skipper and a wicket here meant Wellington finished nine runs shy at the death. T

his was an exceptional performance from a team made up of school year four and five children – many who had never played in a hard ball match before.