Ross U11s took on Brockhampton on Sunday June 24th, in what turned out to be one of the most exciting matches for some time with the result in the balance to the very last ball.

The visitors boldly elected to bat in chilly, blustery conditions under a grey sky and looked to have made a mistake when Gus O'Connor struck in the first over with a neat caught and bowled, but Charles Tobey (15) and Izzy Binnersly (8) dug in against some very accurate Ross bowling and together moved the score along steadily to 42 after 11 overs.

In the conditions, with a lush outfield this was no mean feat and even after Tobey became the first of Ollie O'Neil's victims, some good running kept the scoreboard ticking over and Brockhampton appeared to be getting back on top.

However, with a stroke of mastery, Ollie O'Neil was recalled to bowl the final over and with deadly accuracy removed 3 further batsmen for only 1 run to finish with 4 for 5 from his 3 overs and leave himself on a hat-trick next game.

The target was set at 64 to win and a close game looked likely.

When Ross began the chase, the Brock bowling was inspired, and supported by some excellent fielding, had restricted the hosts to only 19 from the first 10 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. They looked to be regaining control.

Gradually however, with some sometimes desperate running and a few lusty blows, George Rice (20) and Gus O'Connor (11*) set about the chase and having put on 41 runs looked to have turned the game back in Ross' favour before an unbelievably accurate throw from the boundary hit the stumps directly to run Rice out with 3 runs required from the last 3 balls.

Then followed a remarkable denouement with Ross first risking a daring bye when the ball went into the wicketkeepers hands and then scampering an unfeasible 2 leg byes from the penultimate ball of the innings to secure a fantastic victory.

It was a credit to both sides that they were able to bowl and field so well in tricky conditions and testament to the fact that there were no less than 14 players on the field who have had county representative honours.

A very even contest just tipped towards Ross at the end and as if in tribute - the sun came out and the game finished under a canopy of blue sky.