b'THE ELLESMERIAN 135Cricket1st XIThe 1st XI ledger makes for mixed reading, with three wins, a tie, and twothey posted 127 runs in the 20 overs even, though Morgan Yorke took 4 losses. It is important to give context to the results in that, after an initialwickets for only 17 runs. However, Ellesmere should have won the match poor performance in the first game, the side improved greatly. Thus, it wasbut failed to get past the Newcastle total. Ben Wright batted through the good to see the senior side start to gel from a mix of two particular ageinnings for 38 runs, and Oliver Moore scored 28. groups playing some very competitive games, particularly against the adult sides (MCC and Shropshire Gentlemen).The exam season kicked in providing a challenge to the team to maintain any positive momentum gained from the second Newcastle game. Thus, Although two losses were recorded it must be noted one of the lossesa win on the road against Wirral Grammar School proved that this side could easily have been a drawn game, making the overall ledger muchwas improving in all aspects. With more consistent bowling and fielding more impressive. It was not the case that this side was technicallyEllesmere restricted Wirral to a total of 122 for 4 wickets in 20 overs after incapable of winning but more to do with game management at crucialbeing under pressure from the Wirral batters. In response Ewan Tullock times. It was only a matter of undertaking more opportunities to playscored 43 runs, William Owen 31, and Joe Osbourne 23 not out finished against other senior sides, particularly during the summer holidaysoff the innings to reach the Wirral total, having only lost 3 wickets. The club period, thus gaining exposure to senior cricket and appropriatesquad continued to grow with another win against Kings Chester School. experience.116 for 8, 114 for 8. Won by 2 wicketsThe early loss against Newcastle-under-Lyme (friendly) was disappointing,Both games against the adult sides proved to be fantastic learning with Ellesmere only assembling a small total of 88 runs. Ellesmere managedexperiences. The MCC were struggling on 73 for 6 wickets (Henry to take 5 wickets with Jonny Evans taking two wickets. Newcastle easilyAppleby taking 3 wickets for 18 runs) before taking a long time to set reached the total in only 12 overs. Ellesmeres batting, bowling, and fieldinga final total of 169 for 7 wickets. Once Ben Wright and Oliver Moore could only described as very rusty. were out Ellesmeres response was not to potential. However, against the Shropshire Gentlemen, consistent bowling restricted them to 118 all out Ellesmere were drawn against Newcastle-under-Lyme in the Nationalwith Morgan Yorke and Georgia Munro getting 3 wickets each. The Gents HMC T20. It felt as though Newcastle thought, quite rightly, thattotal was easily reached with Oliver Moore scoring 85 not out and Ben they should win again. However, this was a very different EllesmereWright supporting him with 21 runs.performance, having been humbled by the previous match. Newcastle must have fuelled their confidence in securing a successful result whenGO'