After having two games cancelled by the league, and one postponed by their opposition, North Leeds U15s finally got their season underway in the beautiful evening sunshine. So timeless and bucolic was the scene at Menston, you would be have been forgiven for scanning the boundary for John Constable, crouched at his easel. The boys were relieved to get the game on, the travelling parents possibly more relieved that the bar was open and serving ice-cold pints of Moretti.

We were asked to have a field first by the young Menston skipper who was no doubt keen to take advantage of the cooler evening air that was to come. As captain for the evening Max Worrall shouldered the responsibility of opening the bowling alongside Lucas Hooper. Max’s bowling would make Marie Kondo look like Stig of the Dump, with his first two overs going for just a single run. Lucas was also tight but fell victim to a steaky boundary which relieved the pressure on the Menston opening pair just a little. Kudos to Max Barron for some very neat keeping to some fierce fast bowling on a hard track. Taking the ball at the top of the parabola was a lesson for the budding glovemen watching.

After a tense start it was Andrew Fong Wah who delivered the breakthrough, bowling what was described as the ‘perfect ball’ by the opposing umpire; pitching outside off, and nipping back to hit the very top of off stump. Menston puffing and blowing in the heat at 18-1. Rohan Blakeman replaced Lucas at the other end and Arthur Nowell came on after Andrew’s second over. Despite some close calls and tight fielding, the batters managed to push along and build a platform at 57-1 at the halfway point. This included a wholly unnecessary agricultural biff across the line into an adjacent garden by the Menston number three. No doubt his coach will be talking to him about the importance of playing in line and along the ground in line with the MCC Coaching Manual; I’m glad none of our players succumbed to this kind of egregious show-boating.

A platform Menston had, but it was clearly one constructed of balsa wood and blu-tack as Arthur lured the remaining opener into a false shot which was adeptly pouched by Andrew FW; 61-2 and game on. Lochan Chakrabarti arrived to change the pace at one end, supported by Charlie Brearley at the other. It took Lochan just six legal deliveries to send the number four back to the hutch like the bunny he proved to be; 65-3. Charlie kept it super-tight at the other end with his two overs going for just two runs. Lokesh replaced Lochan, (much to the bafflement of one of the less astute Menston batters) and, not wanting to be outdone by his brother, took a wicket with his fourth delivery; Max Worrall taking a catch as cool as a cucumber to make it 75-4.

So far, so competitive - 75-4 from 16 overs, Menston thinking 120 was achievable no doubt. They failed to factor in the fact that Max had kept his secret weapon for the death overs; Daniyal Khan entered the fray. Pow, Pow - two wickets in his first over left Menston reeling at 81-6. Lucas came back to complete his set as Menston scrambled for singles. This was just a holding pattern for Daniyal’s return; Pow Pow - two more victims in the first four balls, Menston 89-8 with one over to go. U15s’ debutant Luke Cooper stepped up, ice in his veins, to hurl down an over Lasith Malinger would have been proud of.

Menston all done at 97-8 from their 20. The boys disappeared for a water, the mums and dads hustled back to the Moretti tap.

Like knights of the modern age, Max and Lucas donned their polyurethane armour and marched into the lions’ den (to mix a metaphor or two). In an ominous (for Menston - ha!) foreshadowing, the first ball of the innings sailed past the hapless keeper for five wides; Extras opening his account - it would turn out to be a fruitful knock.

Max and Lucas blunted much of the Menston opening attack before Max fell for 4 in the fifth over. Rohan Blakeman ambled out to join Lucas at the crease looking for all the world like a young David Gower. Rohan and Lucas rotated the strike for a couple of overs before Lucas fell to a young Menston quick for 6. Charlie Brearley replaced him and quickly injected some dynamism into the proceedings calling for runs galore, some off the bat, many collected by Master EX Tras as the ball whizzed past the keeper.

Charlie departed for 8 in the twelfth over, leaving North Leeds at 53-3. 45 needed from 43 - a struggle for the ODI sides of yesteryear, but surely a canter for boys brought up on the muscular power-hitting of the IPL era. Max Barron was clearly in the latter group, cracking his first ball to the boundary; 41 from 42. From there Rohan and Max solidly worked towards the target, with very few alarms, as Menston tried every bowling option at their disposal.

Two overs left, just four needed - which of Max or Rohan would be the hero? Alas, it was neither. Our old friend Extras leapt in to take the glory, bookending the innings with four byes. North Leeds 98-3 in 18.3 overs. A satisfying, professional win - played in the right spirit against a nice team. In one way cricket was the winner. In another, more accurate way, NLCC U15s won.

With thanks to Squire Patton Boggs LLP for making the boys look resplendent in their new tops, and to Heineken NV for their production of Birra Moretti.