Final Over: The Last Week of Cricket Fixtures

Tuesday 30th June 

U9/8 Cricket v RGS 

The KSA U8/9A team rounded off their final fixture of the year against RGS determined to finish the season on a positive note, and the boys certainly delivered with an outstanding all-round performance. 

After winning the toss and bowling first, the progress the team has made throughout the year was on full display. The boys consistently bowled excellent line and length, keeping the pressure on RGS throughout the innings while limiting the number of extras. The biggest highlight, however, was the fielding. Their energy and commitment to chase down every ball was superb. Leading the innings featuring two brilliant direct-hit run outs. It was fantastic to see all the hard work put into fielding practice paying off so spectacularly. 

RGS posted a competitive total, meaning the boys needed to bat with positive intent. They did exactly that. The team punished any loose bowling on offer resulting in smashing six sixes during the innings which played a huge part in the chase. Alongside the powerful hitting, the running between the wickets was quick and decisive allowing us to keep the scoreboard ticking over and eventually reach the target to secure a fantastic 20-run victory. 

Theo, James, Wilf, Hugo, Archie, Akshay, Gabe, Archie H, Magson and Charlie should all be incredibly proud of their performance. It was a fitting way to finish what has been a hugely successful season. Every player showcased just how much they have developed over the year. Congratulations to all the boys on a brilliant season and we look forward to seeing even more progress and success in the future!

U9/8 Cricket v RGS 

Four Year 3 and 4 teams made the short journey up the A38 to Claines on Tuesday afternoon for their final cricket fixture of the year against RGS The Grange. Although the sun was shining, a gentle breeze kept the children cool, making it a perfect afternoon for an enjoyable and closely contested pairs cricket match.

Geoffey, Sam, Phoenix, Ben, Tiegan, Hibah, Ivan and Finley represented King’s St. Alban’s, taking to the field first. Finley and Phoenix opened the bowling, conceding 21 runs from their two overs. Sam and Ben followed with an excellent spell, allowing just 12 runs, with Ben claiming the team’s first wicket. Geoffey and Ivan then produced a particularly economical partnership, restricting RGS The Grange to just five runs, while Geoffey added another wicket to the tally. Hibah and Tiegan continued the good work, conceding only 15 runs, with Tiegan also taking a wicket. Geoffey and Ivan returned for another spell, conceding 13 runs and seeing Geoffey claim his second wicket of the afternoon, before Sam and Phoenix rounded off the innings by giving away just 10 runs from the final two overs. RGS The Grange finished on 66 runs for the loss of four wickets.

Following the same batting order, Finley and Phoenix opened the innings with a solid 13 runs from their three overs despite losing two wickets. Sam and Ben then produced an outstanding partnership, scoring an impressive 23 runs. Ivan and Geoffey added a valuable 15 runs before Hibah and Tiegan completed the innings with another important 15 runs.

Remarkably, King’s St. Alban’s also finished on exactly 66 runs. However, having lost only three wickets compared to RGS The Grange’s four, the team secured a thrilling victory on wickets lost in what proved to be one of the closest matches of the season.

The game provided an excellent reminder of the importance of accurate bowling, sharp fielding and making the most of every opportunity to take wickets. The children should be extremely proud of the progress they have made throughout the term, not only in developing their cricket skills but also in their understanding of the game.

Thank you very much to the parents who came along to support the team on a glorious afternoon. It was wonderful to see the children’s enthusiasm, teamwork and confidence on display in their final match of the year.

Player of the Match: Geoffey, for an outstanding all-round performance, including two wickets with the ball and a valuable contribution with the bat.

U9/8 Cricket v RGS

In beautiful sunshine for their final match of the season, the U8/9 team produced an excellent performance against The Grange. Bowling first, the team displayed some superb skills, with Ben and Molly bowling consistently good line and length throughout. Milan showed great improvement and delivered some excellent balls when keeping his arm action high, while Edward impressed with his accuracy and consistency. In reply, Leen struck several positive shots and Mikael batted sensibly, placing the ball well and communicating brilliantly between the wickets. The standout partnership came from Alice and Nell, who batted beautifully together, scoring boundaries, calling well and accumulating valuable runs. A great way to finish the year.

U9/8 Cricket v RGS 

The U8/U9 cricket team produced a fantastic performance against RGS The Grange, securing an impressive 11-run victory. It was an exciting match with all players contributing positively and showing great teamwork throughout.

A key factor in the win was the excellent running between the wickets. The team consistently looked for quick singles and well-judged doubles, turning good shots into valuable runs and ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking over. Their awareness, communication, and determination helped build a strong total that proved difficult for the opposition to chase.

Special congratulations go to Kate, who was deservedly named Best Batter after playing with confidence and showing excellent shot selection throughout her innings. Lakshmi was awarded Best Bowler for her accurate and consistent bowling, which helped restrict the opposition and create scoring pressure.

Well done to everyone involved for a superb team effort, excellent sportsmanship, and a well-earned victory. The players should be very proud of their performance and the progress they continue to make.

Wednesday 1st July 

U11/10 Cricket v RGS 

The final match of the term saw the U11/10 girls produce their best performance of the season, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish. From the very first ball to the very last, the standard of cricket, teamwork and enthusiasm on display was absolutely brilliant.

KSA were put into bat first and made an excellent start. Romi and Hannah opened the innings and also returned as the final pair, batting superbly throughout. Both girls struck three boundaries each and provided a strong platform for the innings. Nell and Elizabeth continued the momentum with a fantastic partnership, scoring an impressive 25 runs from their overs, with Nell finding the boundary three times with some excellent shots.

Elodie and Martha also batted well together, running brilliantly between the wickets and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The standout partnership of the day came from Thea and Ariya. Thea produced one of the moments of the match by hitting her very first six – a superb strike over the leg-side boundary – and added three more boundaries to cap off a wonderful innings. Their partnership helped KSA finish on a superb total of 105.

With the ball, it took us a couple of overs to adjust to the slope of the wicket, but once we had settled, the bowling was outstanding. Every player bowled with excellent line and length, making it incredibly difficult for RGS to score freely. The fielding matched the bowling, with the girls showing great energy, backing each other up and fielding with real determination throughout the innings.

RGS finished on 67, giving KSA a well-deserved victory.

This was a fantastic way to end the term. The quality of cricket was exceptional, but even more pleasing was seeing the girls playing with such confidence, enjoyment and teamwork. Every player contributed to an outstanding team performance, and they should all be incredibly proud of how they finished the season. Well done, girls!

U11/10 Cricket v RGS 

The KSA U10/11 team took on RGS in their final fixture of the season, with the boys eager to finish the year on a high. For several members of the squad it was their final match representing KSA, making it an especially memorable occasion. 

KSA bowled first and came up against a very strong RGS batting line-up. Despite the challenge, the boys remained calm and disciplined in trying to consistently hit good line and length. At times, even well-executed deliveries were dispatched to the boundary, providing a real test of character. However, the team showed fantastic resilience throughout the innings. Never letting their heads drop and continuing to support each other in the field. Their efforts were rewarded with some excellent run outs which created a great spectacle to see how much they enjoyed that. Even when the ball was struck hard, the boys put their bodies on the line and gave 100% effort in the field which was brilliant to see. 

Chasing a competitive total, the boys went out with positive intent from the very first ball. They looked to keep the scoreboard moving by taking quick singles and turning them into twos whenever possible. Boundaries were difficult to come by thanks to some excellent RGS fielding, but whenever a loose delivery was offered the boys capitalised well. Keeping this momentum right down to the last ball but ultimately fell just short of the target. 

The result certainly doesn’t take away from the way the boys applied themselves throughout the match. Every player demonstrated excellent attitude and determination from start to finish. 

A mention goes to Haadi, Matthew, and Monty for their contributions with both bat and ball throughout the game.  

Finally, this match marked the end of the KSA journey for Jack, Josh, Pip, Adam, Max, Hugo, and Ben. Thank you all for your commitment, enthusiasm, and hard work during your time at KSA. You should be incredibly proud of the way you represented the school and it was fantastic to see you finish the season by giving 100% effort regardless of the result. Best of luck with your cricket in the future and we wish you every success in the years ahead! 

U11/10 Cricket v RGS 

Our U11/10 team brought their season to a close with a hard-fought match against The Grange. Although the result didn’t go our way, the team showed great effort and determination throughout their final fixture.

In the field, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. The team worked hard to stop boundaries with some excellent stops and backed each other up well. There were also some impressive deliveries with several bowlers hitting the stumps, showing the progress that has been made over the course of the season.

When it came to batting, we struggled to make the most of our opportunities. Running between the wickets proved to be the biggest challenge, and a number of missed chances to score ultimately made the difference in a closely contested game.

Despite the defeat, every player gave their best until the final ball. It has been fantastic to see the team’s development throughout the season, and this match highlighted both the improvements made and the areas to continue working on. Well done to everyone for their effort and commitment across the season, we look forward to seeing the players continue to develop next year.

U11/10 Cricket v RGS 

The U10/U11s put in a determined effort against a very strong RGS The Grange side, but ultimately found themselves beaten. RGS were outstanding with the ball and adapted well to the hard ball format. Their bowling was consistently accurate and quick, making it difficult for our batters to make meaningful contact and build any momentum. RGS finished with 9 wickets compared to our 3.

There were several positives to take away from the match. Daniel had an outstanding game, claiming 2 wickets, while Maddie added another wicket with a well deserved breakthrough. Behind the stumps, Daniel and later Jack were both excellent wicketkeepers, showing great concentration, bravery and skill throughout the innings.

This match was an especially valuable experience as, for several of our players, it was their very first hard ball cricket game. The speed and bounce of the ball presented a new challenge, but the team showed resilience and a willingness to learn throughout. There was plenty of effort and determination on display in the field, and every player continued to work hard until the final ball. As we gain more experience, continuing to attack the ball, move towards it positively and return it quickly will help us grow in confidence. Although the score did not go our way, this was an important step in the team’s development and a great learning opportunity. Well done!

U11/10 Cricket v RGS 

Three teams from Years 5 and 6 travelled up to Fernhill Heath on Wednesday for an afternoon of cricket against RGS The Grange. Thankfully, a gentle breeze helped keep everyone cool in the warm sunshine, providing perfect conditions for a friendly pairs cricket match against our local Worcester rivals.

Representing St. Alban’s were Savannah, Becky, Vicky, Poppy, Bella, Cerys, Flo and Millie, who were put into bat first. Savannah and Becky made an excellent start, scoring 22 runs from their three overs while losing just one wicket. A particular highlight was Savannah’s beautifully struck boundary four. Poppy and Vicky followed with a solid contribution of 14 runs for the loss of one wicket, before Flo and Bella added a further nine runs for the loss of two wickets. Millie and Cerys finished the innings positively, scoring 14 runs despite losing two wickets. With five runs deducted for each wicket lost in pairs cricket, St. Alban’s finished on a respectable 29 runs against a strong mixed-gender RGS The Grange side.

Savannah and Becky then opened the bowling, conceding just 17 runs from their three overs. Poppy and Vicky continued well, restricting the opposition to 21 runs from their spell. Although Flo and Bella faced some powerful hitting from the RGS batters, including several boundaries that ultimately proved decisive, Cerys and Millie finished the innings well, conceding only 13 runs from their three overs.

The match demonstrated the importance of sharp fielding, taking wickets, and making the most of every scoring opportunity. Throughout the afternoon, the team displayed excellent teamwork, determination and perseverance, making this a fitting final fixture of the season – particularly for those pupils playing their last ever cricket match for St. Alban’s.

A huge thank you to the parents who came along to support the team in the glorious sunshine.

Player of the Match: Savannah, for her excellent all-round performance with both bat and ball.

U11/10 Cricket v RGS 

The Under 10/11 team finished the season in style with an excellent performance against RGS in their final match of the year. With the bat, everyone contributed by running hard between the wickets, playing positively, and showing growing confidence throughout the innings. There were some excellent partnerships that kept the scoreboard moving and put the opposition under pressure. A special mention goes to Iris, who was deservedly named Batter of the Match after playing a superb innings, showing excellent shot selection, composure, and determination at the crease. 

The team carried that momentum into the field with an energetic and disciplined display. Excellent communication, sharp fielding, and strong backing up supported the bowlers brilliantly, making it difficult for RGS to score freely. The bowlers showed great control throughout, with Henry producing a superb spell to earn Bowler of the Match thanks to his accuracy and consistency. It was a fantastic all-round team effort and a fitting way to end the season, with every player making a valuable contribution and plenty of positives to take into next year.