U12s Skipper Steals The Show

29th July 2016 | Mallory Gray

The U12s Skipper, Alex Horton, is enjoying s rich vein of form, to put it lightly!  In three consecutive innings recently, he scored 108, 42 and 154 not out.  However, his stalwart efforts were only sufficient to bring one victory from three matches.

On Sunday 20th July Wales hosted Worcestershire at Newport CC. After an outstanding batting performance, with Alex Horton scoring 108 in the Wales total of 179-5, the Welsh bowlers produced a below par display.

Bowling far too short on a good wicket the Welsh bowlers were dispatched to all parts of the ground by the Worcestershire openers M. Holland (91) and T. Cosh 44, in a 128 run opening partnership. Of the bowlers only left arm spinner Sam Protheroe, who took 3 – 42, and Owen Bailey (8 overs, 0-20) bowled well.   The quality of the remaining bowling was very poor throughout allowing Worcestershire to reach their 180 run target for the loss of only 4 wickets. This was a very poor performance by Wales, in a game that was very winnable. 

The "Mini-tour" to London provided an opportunity to make amends.  Surrey's total of 158-9 in 40 overs hints at improvement in the bowling but a reply of 100-8 in 40 overs suggests that conditions might have been bowler-friendly.  Only Alex Horton (42) provided any significant resistance in a comfortable victory for the home side.

The match at Merchant Taylor's School provided a run feast and a win for Wales - or rather for Alex Horton!  Chasing down a total of 223-5 (40 overs), Alex Horton won the game almost single-handed by scoring 154 not out in 124 deliveries.  After a slow start to his innings he eventually cut loose and went through a long spell of scoring from every delivery.  In total, Alex struck twenty 4s and two 6s in his innings which brought victory by 6 wickets.

Wales U12 Squad selected to go to the Taunton Festival is :-

Ben Kellaway (Capt); Alex Horton; Benji Mulcahy; Callum Nicholls; Frank MacDonald-Brown; Hugo Caldicott; James Thomas; Joe Howell' Owen Bailey; Robbie Brown ;Ross Mohring; Sam Protheroe; Alfie Brown; Zain Zaman.