Over the years cricket has thrown up some monumental contests. England’s super-over World ODI final win against New Zealand in 2019. Javed Miandad’s epic last ball six to see Pakistan beat India in the 1986 Asia Cup. The Bodyline series of 1932-33. To that list you can now add Moormead u9s v Twickenham u9s in June 2024.

Well, ok, perhaps it wasn’t quite *that* epic, but the two sides certainly enjoyed an exciting contest that led to a genuinely fascinating end. Indeed, the tension and nerves around the boundary edge as Moormead’s Ollie La Roux bowled the last over were palpable.

Catches win matches
The game had been nip and tuck all the way to that point. Michael Frost and Max Malcolm batted nicely for Moormead, with Nico Morgan (2-5 off his two overs) leading the charge for the Ts.

Raf Foster impressed most in the field, pouching a monumental catch off his own bowling. Throw in further wickets for Stan Hough, Jaden Mate and Faris Iqbal and the Ts could be happy with their work. They needed 270 to win.

Calm heads prevail
The Twickenham reply started slowly, but gained momentum through the innings. Austin Tilzey, for example, wasn’t blasting the ball to all corners, but he was running sharply and, crucially, keeping the ball out.

The Hough twins gave the innings a bit of oomph in the middle, but there was still work for both of the last two pairs to do. Nico Morgan couldn’t find the boundary rope, but he, too, was running speedily. Jaden Mate – even with his box round his kneecap – was just about keeping up with him.

In the end, it was left to big-hitting Harvir Ghere and Faris Iqbal to see the Twickenham ship home. Ollie Le Roux, however, was tweaking and twirling nicely and when he bowled Ghere it looked like Moormead could be about to clinch a famous win.

With the Moormead fielders looking razor sharp it was left to Ghere and particularly Faris Iqbal to re-group. As the game entered the last over Iqbal realised that Twickenham were in front and a calm head was the order of the day. That was epitomised when he dead-batted the last ball back to see Twickenham home by a seven run margin.

Another excellent morning’s entertainment, rounded off by an ice cream van turning up at precisely the right moment. Magnificent stuff all round.