A WOMBWELL youngster bowled out the big boys when he took the ball in his first ever cricket match.

Jack Rogers, eight, of Tune Street is cricket mad. But he had only ever played kwik cricket with a rubber bat before he went to stay with his dad near Southampton.

Then at barely four feet tall, he managed to dismiss two adult batsmen inside seven balls during a competitive friendly match.

Dad Tim Rogers is captain of his local side and was nearing the end of the innings in the Sunday match. He said: “Their tailenders were lingering a bit, so I tossed Jack the ball and thought I’d see what happened.

“Sometimes when blokes face kids they get out on purpose, but they didn’t on this occasion. One of them was a bit cheesed off.”

Sports reporter Mike Vimpany covered the story for the local paper in Southampton. He said: “Jack Rogers certainly knew how to bowl. Tossing the ball up high and getting turn when it landed, Jack bamboozled both Michael Marchant and Michael Collins with his off-spin in quick succession.

“Jack also showed prowess with the bat, scoring four not out. Alas, he wasn't able to prevent Bramshaw slipping to a narrow eight-run defeat.”

Tim said: “Jack eats, drinks and sleeps cricket and can’t wait to grow a bit more so he can really participate. He’s got the makings of a very useful cricketer.”

Jack took part in another two matches before returning to Wombwell and took five wickets in total.