Hat-trick hero Bradley Oakes.....
Huntingdonshire U17 v Hertfordshire U17
15 - 16 July 2014
Eaton Socon Cricket Club
End of Play Day 1
Hunts U17 - 177 a.o.
Herts U17 - 138 for 1
Leg spin bowler, Bradley Oakes, enjoyed an amazing debut for the U17's in the two-day format. Coming on to bowl after lunch with the score 75-2 Bradley forced their number 4 to play one big shot to many where the grateful hands of Ben Waring were waiting at cover. The very next ball, a flipper, did keep low but crashed into off-stump via the pad giving two in two.
But the best was yet to come....an attacking field set for the hat trick ball and Bradley bowled the ball dreams are made of. Pitching on around middle stump it turned and bounced and brushed the outside edge where Patrick Scott didn't disappoint with the gloves. Scenes of pandemonium broke out with hugs and high fives, even the coach whooped and hollered!!
But that wasn't the end for Bradley. A fourth followed and then, with the help of the most amazing one handed diving catch at deep mid on by Taylor Weeks, a fifth!!
A good day for Herts U17 bowling Hunts U17 out for 177 with 5-45 off 17 overs for Oakes, Ben Waring picked up 2-40 off 17.5 overs, Saahil Vora, the only seamer to pick up a wicket, got 2-7 off 7 and Luke Chapman, who also bowled well finished with 1-40 off 17.
Herts finished the day on 138-1 with Patrick Scott on 74 not out and captain, Joe Cooke, on 38 not out.
Play resumes at 11:00 needing just 40 more for a first innings victory.
Mark Ilott
Herts U17 Head Coach