Derbyshire U17 County Boys Squad

  DCB U17 TEAM 2011 – Management Team

                  Howard Dytham 07771 718998              Steve Hollis 07889 493325                Bob James 07525 186979

                 howard.dytham@derbyshireccc.com   steve.hollis2@btinternet.com          rijames1@btinternet.com

                 Steve Dixon 07803 599935 – stephen.dixon231@tesco.net

Wednesday 24th August 2011

DCB Under 17 v Nottinghamshire August 16th and 17^th 2011

The Derbyshire Under 17 team ended their season on a very positive note with an emphatic first innings win against neighbours Nottinghamshire in the Northern Section Division 1 play-off round of the ECB two-day championship competition.

Electing to bat first on an easy-paced pitch at the pleasant Rolleston CC ground, the home side progressed serenely to 300 for eight and maximum batting points before dismissing their opponents for 149 and collecting more batting points in the second innings.

With one eye on next season’s squads, both sides took the opportunity to include a number of under-age players to give them experience of the two-day game, and all performed very creditably.  In fact, the Derbyshire side contained only two seventeen year olds – captain Matt Fletcher and his vice-captain Tom Wood.

Fletcher top-scored with an accomplished 78 off 146 balls (11 fours), and was unfortunate not to end his Under 17 career with a century.  He was well supported by the patient Michael Mitchell (41) and the more aggressive Wood ((50, including 11 fours).  With the other batsmen playing with discipline and Heanor’s Cory Keable contributing a quick-fire 29* batting at number 8, the captain was able to declare before the close on the first day.

The visitors survived eight overs to go into the nextday with all their wickets intact, but after Adam Wheatcroft and Harry White had taken a wicket each on the second morning, Greg Cork ripped the heart out the Notts middle order with an excellent display of controlled swing bowling.  Moving the ball late into the right-hander, he was rewarded with three wickets in his spell of seven overs to reduce the visitors to 53 for 5. With the other bowlers chipping in with a wicket each, Notts found themselves at 108 for nine shortly after lunch.

The last wicket pair of Daniel Wood and Ewen Skelham then frustrated the Derbyshire bowlers with a last wicket stand of 41 before Cork returned to wrap up the innings with another plumb lbw decision and finish with the impressive figures of four for 21 off 13.2 overs.

Derbyshire then took the opportunity to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on on what was still a good pitch and succeeded in gaining three more points to finish on 205 for 5 in 48 overs.  Michael Mitchell again showed good concentration to reach a well-deserved 50, putting on 132 for the second wicket with Mykylo Bird, whose excellent timing brought him 77 off 103 balls including nine sweetly-struck boundaries.

There was then time for Keable (31 at a run a ball) to repeat his aggressive stroke-play and for 15 year-old Aaron Hibell (Ticknall)) to impress with 25* off 22 balls in his first U17 match.

Like the other players from the younger age-groups (Harvey Hosein, Mykylo Bird and Oliver Pearson) his taste of two-day cricket will stand him and his team-mates in good stead for next season.

By Bob James

Monday 8th August 2011

DCB U17s v Yorkshire at Denby (ECB County Cup) 1^st August

Derbyshire’s hopes of finishing at the top of Division 1A in the ECB County Cup were extinguished after a young side containing three under-age players suffered defeat at the hands of a strong Yorkshire side.

Choosing to bat first, Yorkshire posted 291 for four off their allotted 50 overs, aided by a generous helping of wides (25) from the home attack. This, however, is to take nothing away from the batsmen, who timed their innings well as they made good use of the powerplays on a firm pitch and fast outfield, with opener Callis top-scoring with 90 made of 116 balls. After his dismissal, the fifth wicket pair of Wilson (39* off 24 balls) and Chadwick (35 off 22 balls) made sure that the home side would be faced with a testing target.

The target became even more demanding after the loss of two early wickets, but then Peter Burgoyne, back from his stint with England Under 19s, began to dominate the attack, finding the boundary regularly in  a hard-hit 57 before he was needlessly run out as the Derbyshire lads again pressed the self-destruct button with careless running and calling.

Two more run-outs contributed to a lame collapse as the score plummeted from 101 for three to 128 all out to leave the visitors comfortable winners.

DCB U17s v Yorkshire at Ockbrook and Borrowash (ECB County Championship) 2^nd/3^rd August

The following two days at Ockbrook and Borrowash CC gave the team another taste of tough cricket, though there was more to commend in the performances and grit displayed by the players, especially by some of the more inexperienced members of the side.

Derbyshire won the toss and batted first under a hot sun on a fast-scoring ground.  Not for the first time this season, several batsmen did the hard work to get established but then got out in the 20s.  At 121 for seven, things were looking bleak but then Harvey Hosein (41), promoted from the Under 15s, and Matt Roberts (46*)showed both skill and determination as the total was boosted to 223 all out – not enough but considerably better than had once seemed likely.

The home side gained a break-through before the close of play when the previous day’s hero Callis was superbly caught by Tom Wood in the slips off Greg Cork.  New batsman Leeming survived a confident bat-pad appeal in the final over of the evening session, but then went on to dominate on the second day.

The second wicket stand put on 203 runs as the batsmen, after starting circumspectly, accelerated impressively.  Opener Tattersall reached his hundred before being caught and bowled by Sam Dyson to give the bowler some reward for some accurate seam bowling in unhelpful conditions.

Leeming (155), however, was not satisfied with a hundred, and once he had reached his century, both he and number 4 Ross (53 off 26 balls) found the ropes regularly in the blistering conditions as they successfully targeted the short boundary in particular. Adam Bedford ( three for 38) then dismissed both and added another wicket to his tally before the declaration came at 376 for six, leaving Derbyshire 50 overs to score 153 to make Yorkshire bat again.

Matt Fletcher batted fluently but when he was dismissed for 30 and another wicket fell straightway to make the score 77 for five with twenty-eight overs left, Yorkshire scented outright victory. However, they had not counted on the stubborn resistance and aggression put up by Tom Wood (74*) and Harry White (42), who both displayed tight defence combined with the willingness to attack anything loose, and when stumps were drawn the partnership had realised 105 runs and ensured the draw.

This had been a testing game of cricket, and it is a credit to the side that they emerged from it mentally stronger than they had entered it, with young Hosein in particular impressing with his energy, toughness and skill in his first two-day match.

Durham v DCB U17s (ECB Championship) 26^th/27^th July

Derbys U17s were unable to continue the improvement they showed in the win against Lancashire on their trip to Durham, suffering a defeat on first innings in the two-day game followed by a loss by 148 runs in the 50-over match.

In the two-day ECB Championship match played at Norton CC, Derbyshire batted first after winning the toss

Two early careless run-outs were far from the start the team needed, and although  subsequently several batsmen got established, wickets fell in clutches and only Greg Cork went on to 50 when big partnerships were needed to build a  good total.

Durham’s Raglan was able to capitalise on less than secure technique against left-arm spin to take five for 28 in 15 impressive overs.

When the home side batted, Adam Wheatcroft took an early wicket before the close, but on the second day, but the home batsmen dominated to reach 302 and four batting points before declaring for the loss of nine wickets. Adam Wheatcroft picked up three wickets for 68, but overall the out-cricket fell short of what was needed.

When Derbyshire went in again, Greg Cork (30) and Tom Wood (30*) ensured that their team at least picked up another batting bonus point as they ended on 100 for four.

Durham v DCB U17s (ECB County Cup) 28^th July

In the one-day match at Hartlepool, Durham chose to bat first in hot and sunny conditions.

The ploy of playing pinch-hitters up the order failed to pay off as the visitors took two early wickets through Adam Wheatcroft and Andrew Cooper.  The specialist batsmen, however, proved more difficult to remove, with the next two batsmen adding 82 runs before both fell in quick succession. At 98 for four the home side needed to rebuild, but did so positively, always looking to attack.

Pearce, Coyne and Seymour made useful contributions to hoist the final total to 265 for nine with off-spinner Matt Roberts taking three for 55 and Greg Cork ,who varied his pace intelligently, finishing with two for 35.

The target was challenging but certainly achievable on the fast-scoring ground but unfortunately, the reply got off to a bad start with two wickets falling quickly for Derbyshire to find themselves at 4 for two.

Skipper Matt Fletcher (27) and Denby’s Michael Mitchell (40) then came together and took the attack to the home side, with Mitchell unleashing a series of powerful off-drives to take the score to 86 at the required rate before both batsmen fell in rapid succession as the old Achilles’ heel of losing wickets in pairs manifested itself once again.

Then Derbyshire’s other nemesis of 2011, slow-left arm bowling, struck again.  Raglan (three for 18) and Quinn (four for 12) bowled with good control, but aided and abetted by some less than proficient shot selection by several batsmen, reduced the visitors from 86 for two to a mere 117 all out to end a disappointing week.

Bob James - U17 Coach

Thursday 21st July 2011

Win for U17 Boys over Lancashire

The Under 17s put the disappointment of the previous game against Cheshire behind them with a first innings win against Lancashire in the ECB National Championship game at Glossop CC.

Lessons from the defeat at Timperley had clearly been learned as the players displayed a much more disciplined approach which brought them 16 much-needed points.

The hospitality at Glossop was, as ever, warm and welcoming, but not so the weather which resulted in a late start and two other interruptions on the first day.

Lancs won the toss and not surprisingly decided to bowl first in the damp conditions. 

After the loss of two early wickets, captain Matt Fletcher (37) and Tom Wood (35) started to repair the damage against some very accurate and thoughtful spin bowling from the visitors, but when both were dismissed, it was left to number 6 Greg Cork to take on the responsibility of guiding the side to a respectable total, and aided by Swarkestone’s Harry White (28), this he did with a disciplined innings of 55 off 141 balls which ended on the second morning when he was caught off a leading edge.

The home side finished on 229 all out, leaving Lancashire to score at just over 3 runs and over to reach their target.

Discipline of line and length and keen fielding were vital, and after the visitors had survived a potentially tricky half-hour before lunch, Glossop’s Sam Dyson ( two for 29) and Rolleston’s Andy Cooper (one for 34) both displayed the necessary accuracy to take two quick wickets after the re-start to put the visitors on the defensive at 33 for two.

Adam Wheatcroft (two for 42) came back to take a wicket while Cork (three for 30), in the unaccustomed role of slow left-armer, took two wickets in an over when he relieved Dyson to reduce Lancs to 70 for five and put his side on top.

The game, however, was far from over, and what followed was an enthralling piece of cricket as Lancashire showed determination and no little skill to pull themselves back into contention.

However, despite the best efforts of skipper McKiernan, who finished on 45 not out, and useful contributions from number 8 Butterworth (21) and last man Hamza Naeem (13),  the visitors were 45 runs short of their target when Matt Roberts (two for 26) had Naeem stumped to bring the innings to an end.

Howard Dytham, U17 Coach added “This was a terrific effort by the lads after a difficult previous week in Cheshire. They really showed a collective team spirit and ability to stick to a plan over the 2 days. Lancs are always a competitive side and their captain Matthew McKiernon bowled magnificently throughout. To have beaten such a strong county in both the 1 Day and 2 Day formats this season is fantastic. Let’s hope the players continue to improve as we move on to Durham next week”

Bob James

Monday 18th July 2011

Disappointment for U17s at Cheshire

A disappointing all-round performance by the Under 17s led to a defeat on the first innings and a meagre haul of 6 points against Cheshire’s 20 in the first match of their ECB National Championship two-day programme.

The home side won the toss and chose to have first use of a slow pitch at Timperley.  The opening batsmen progressed steadily against some innocuous bowling until two wickets fell with the score on 81, the second a rather fortuitous run-out when a fiercely struck straight drive was deflected onto the stumps with the non-striker out of his ground.

The Derbyshire bowlers improved after lunch, taking four wickets in the afternoon session with Ollie Pearson, promoted from the Under 14s, showing commendable control to take a wicket and concede just 31 runs off 18 overs of left-arm spin.

Unfortunately, dropped catches prevented  the visitors from gaining the ascendancy and it was  the second new ball which brought an end to the innings on 279 with A and B’s Adam Wheatcroft finishing with 4 for 52.

This left Derbyshire with an awkward final twenty-five minutes to negotiate at the end of the day, which they finished on 9 for one.

They lost an early wicket on the second morning to reduce them to 18 for two, but skipper Matt Fletcher (pictured left) and Spondon’s Nick Rigg got their heads down to take the total to 88 before Rigg departed for 36, caught off left-arm spinner Camden, who was proving difficult to get away as he tied up one end, bowling 25 overs for only 45 runs

Fletcher was then joined by Tom Wood (Stainsby Hall) and they had just started to build what could have been a decisive partnership when both fell within the space of three balls straight after lunch as the curse of the interval struck again, Wood top-edging a full toss from leg-spinner Harding and Fletcher playing on to Camden for 41 to end his two-hour stay at the crease and make the score 119 for five.

New batsmen Greg Cork (Denby) and Curtley Read (Sandiacre), however, then batted sensibly to wrest back the initiative and at 193 for 5 the match was swinging back towards Derbyshire.  The drinks interval, however, brought the almost inevitable double whammy as Cork played on for 37 immediately after the break and Read perished lbw for 41.

The innings then subsided to 222 all out, leaving the home side two hours to garner more batting points and Derbyshire the opportunity to regain some pride and bowling points.

Cheshire quickly made their intentions clear, racing to 203 for one and 3 more points off 35 overs, with the last 50 coming off just 31 balls with Warner (98*) and Camden (42*) dealing almost exclusively in boundaries and leaving Derbyshire to reflect on all aspects of their game.

Monday 18th July 2011

U17s warm up for ECB National Championships

The Under 17s warmed up for their ECB National Championship two-day programme with a development fixture against a typically strong Staffordshire team which included two members of the Derbyshire Academy.

In a game interrupted several times by rain, Staffordshire won on the first innings after dismissing the hosts for 132 on a pitch which offered plenty of initial encouragement to the seam bowlers.

Although Spondon’s Nick Rigg (pictured right) battled away for two hours for a gritty 16, no Derbyshire batsman was able to build a substantial innings in the conditions, and in fact the total was boosted by 57 extras with the visiting bowlers generously contributing 20 wides and 13 no-balls.

Lateral movement and bounce accounted for most of the dismissals with the Staffordshire wicket-keeper and slip cordon kept on their toes as they snaffled 7 catches.

When Derbyshire took the field, conditions had eased and the bowlers had to work hard to take the six wickets which fell before Staffordshire declared on 250 hoping to bowl the hosts out again.

A two-hour break for rain and some watchful batting scuppered these plans and the game petered out quietly with Derbyshire reaching 83 for two without undue alarm.

(Kane Callaghan, pictured bottom left)

Bob James

Friday 3rd June 2011

Derbyshire U17s Triumph over Cheshire

The Under 17s continued their good start to the season with a comfortable 7 wicket win over Cheshire in the ECB County Cup competition.

The highlight of the match was a century by Peter Burgoyne, who continued his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 104 from 120 balls which took his side to victory with three overs to spare.

Earlier in the day Rolleston’s Andrew Cooper had taken four wickets for 27 to help dismiss the home side for 203.

Cheshire won the toss and decided to bat first on an impressive but cold and windswept Stockport CC ground.  They made a positive start against some lacklustre out-cricket from the visitors, whose bowlers initially struggled to find the right line and length on an easy-paced pitch.  At 100 for one off the first 20 overs, Cheshire looked to be heading for a challenging total before the spinners slowed down the scoring rate. Matt Roberts and Peter Burgoyne took a wicket each, with the hard-hitting Camden falling to an excellent catch by Kane Callaghan off Burgoyne’s bowling.

These successes put a much-needed spring in the step of the Derbyshire players, with Matt Fletcher and Harry White clinging on to good catches as the new batsmen failed to capitalise on the previous good work. 

157 for three soon became 183 for eight against the seam of Cooper and the leg-spin of Adam Bedford (two for 22), and the final total of 203 would have been a disappointment to the home side.

In reply, Derbyshire were reduced to a potentially perilous 38 for two by some loose shot selection. A big partnership was needed and was just what skipper Fletcher and Burgoyne provided, putting on 107 for the third wicket. Fletcher dug in to bat for an hour and a half, finding timing and fluency before he was stumped for 47.

Burgoyne, meanwhile, combining watchful defence with powerful driving, had started to dominate the attack. Following his captain’s dismissal, he was joined by Denby team-mate Greg Cork to guide his side home, reaching a well-deserved century (15 fours) shortly before hitting the winning runs.

The win was the second in two games in the competition for the Derbyshire side, who must now wait until the end of July to face their next one-day opponents, Durham.

Tuesday 24th May 2011

Home victory for Derbyshire U17's against Lancashire

Derbyshire Under 17s got off to a winning start in their first match of the ECB Under 17 County Cup on Sunday.

An excellent all-round performance from Denby’s Peter Burgoyne laid the foundations for the Derbyshire victory in a closely-fought encounter, with the home side clinching a two-wicket win with just 4 balls to spare.

Burgoyne finished with the outstanding  figures of 4-5 in his ten overs of controlled and thoughtful off-spin as Lancashire were dismissed for 165 in a match reduced to 48 overs after an interruption for rain on a blustery day at Rolleston.

After skipper Matt Fletcher had won the toss and elected to field, opening bowlers Kane Callaghan and Adam Wheatcroft made an early breakthrough before Burgoyne’s remarkable spell.

Wheatcroft (three for 35) came back to finish off the tail, leaving left the home side with the seemingly straightforward task of scoring 166 to win.

But cricket is rarely predictable and an enthralling game was to ebb and flow in extraordinary fashion until the nail-biting finale.

Derbyshire were in some discomfort at 46 for three until Burgoyne, batting at number 4 and  supported well by Greg Cork,  guided the home side to 124 with an assured and  positive innings of 59 before running himself out unnecessarily.