The Eaton Bray Sunday Development XI played their first ever match at St. Georges school Harpenden against the Carpenters Arms. A healthy mix of youth and experience took to the field for the Bray – some of which are certainly still in need of ‘development’ ! Eaton Bray fielded 4 junior players making their adult cricket debut’s.

The Carpenters Arms won the toss and chose to bat. Dan Gilbert (16) and Pramod Patil (42) opened the bowling and were quickly amongst the wickets, the first going to Pramod which was taken eventually after ‘a few’ juggles by Azeem Akhtar (52) at slip, you get the idea if you think cat with a ball of wool. Dan got out the other opener confidently caught by debutant Callum Wilkinson (16), and then claimed another wicket, well caught by Pramod down at fine leg. It was also in this over when Dan experienced some sort of brain fade, and in-explicably when arriving at the crease for one of his deliveries just threw the ball several feet over the batters head. With The home side reeling at 9-3 debutant’s William Rossor (15) and Chris Hamer (14) came on, both bowled tidy spells of 4 overs each. Debutant Vikyath Ballari (14) replaced William and took 2-10 in 5 overs, with catches for Azeem and skipper Andy Norris (45). Ben Rossor (53) bowled 4 tidy overs before being replaced by Scott Mineikis who at 54 is playing his first season of cricket, Scott got the 6th wicket of the innings caught by Dan. Callum Wilkinson replaced Viky and took 1-27 off his 4 overs, which included a wicket in his first over clean bowled. With the home side accelerating and starting to find the short boundary with more regularity Dan and Pramod returned to the bowling attack. Dan bagged himself 2 more wickets, with confident catches for Pramod and Chris Hamer, and the home side were restricted to 153 from their 35 overs. Just 1 dropped catch overall by the team, a tidy stint with the gloves from Junaid Ashiq (29) and some fine ground fielding particularly by the younger players meant it was an excellent start in the field by the development team.

Junaid and Scott opened the batting, Scott was out in the 6th over for 6 runs, to leave the Bray at 12-1. Viky strode to the crease for his first innings in adult cricket and played some nice shots in putting on a partnership of 41 with Junaid. Viky received the standard initiation of anyone batting with Junaid in that he was nearly lapped several times when running between the wickets. Viky made 10 getting out in the 17th over. The drinks break was taken and Bray were now 53-2. Chris Hamer came out at 4 for his first bat in an adult match, played a few nice shots before getting a leading edge back to the bowler, making 4 runs and Bray were now 67-3. William Rossor came in at number 5 for his first bat in an adult match and in the space of 9 overs William and Junaid put on 69 together with William looking very comfortable before being bowled for 8. William also received the ‘nearly being lapped’ treatment from Junaid too. Callum Wilkinson came in at 6, which took veteran batter Azeem’s pad rash count for the weekend to around 4 hours and in excess of 65 overs. Callum unfortunately got a duck in his first adult innings. Azeem finally went in at 7 with the Bray 141-5 needing just 13 to win and with Junaid on 90. Junaid reached his hundred before falling LBW or possibly tired from all the batting with/free childcare he'd provided - with our junior players. Skipper Andy went in and dispatched both balls faced for 4 to get the development side over the line with 4.1 overs to spare.

The junior debutant’s all performed really well in their first taste of adult cricket, and overall a good game of cricket played in excellent spirit throughout. Thank-you to our hosts for their hospitality and we look forward to a return fixture at the Rye Gardens later in the season.

Match report by Andy Norris