Henfield Cricket Club ‘Big Bash’

Henfield Cricket Club held its annual junior ‘colts’ six-hitting contest on a glorious Friday evening in late July. Conceived and christened as ‘The Big Bash’ a couple of years ago the event has grown in popularity. This year saw a huge turnout of young cricketers eager to take on the clubs bowling machine and each other in a six-hitting competition.

The evening began with an u8s tournament. The little ones were trying to hit tennis balls over a boundary set about 20 meters from the bat. New to this format, they soon got in the swing and Felix Minshell was crowned the u8s first ever champion. In the under 10s Josh Cridland hit some very big shots on the way to winning his event before the action switched to hard ball and all the protective kit associated with the game for the u12s.

The boundaries were pushed back several meters and Jordan Smith and Ed McLoughlin came through a qualifying and then knock-out rounds to contest a final – head-to-head best of six hits each. Ed went first and smacked two enormous sixes and whilst Jordan scored several fours, he couldn’t find one to clear the rope so Ed was crowned the champion.

In the u14s and 15s event it was a similar result - plenty of spectacular hitting over a near full-length boundary on the way to the final. But in a nervy contest to find a winner Matt Dale’s single blow straight in to the woods was one too many for last year’s winner Robbie Woodward. Robbie smashed more fours than Matt but not the six that counted so Matt was crowned this year’s champion.

The climax of the evening was an u18s event. Tom Paine and George Stewart have both had plenty of experience against the machine and had already performed well in the senior event earlier in the summer. Inattentive spectators, parked cars and the pavilion were all in equal danger during their final. George hit three sixes from his six deliveries, but Tom’s last ball sailed down on to the football pitch area for a fourth and winning six.

It was a great competition and spectacle for players and supporters alike. Look out for next year’s competitions: seniors in mid-June and the juniors just before the schools holidays begin. Spectators are always welcome on the Common at what is a unique and fun way to enjoy cricket.

HCC Colts Committee