U11s enjoy Festival experience
Shropshire’s Under 11 Boys enjoyed an action-packed week at their Shrewsbury School Festival picking up two wins.
The action started on Monday when they took on Staffordshire in what proved to be a run-filled thriller, losing out by just six runs.
Staffordshire batted first and finished their 40 overs on 234-8 with Alfie Hardy claiming 3-30 and Gabe Hanratty 2-45.
In the reply, Shropshire lost early wickets and were struggling on 85-6 despite Elliott Weaver’s 24 at the top of the innings.
But lower order runs from Kyle Rudge (24), Hardy (25) and Hanratty (35) brought them back in to contention, only to fall short of their victory target by just six runs.
Day two saw them up against a strong Gloucestershire side who went on to win all their group games.
Batting first, the boys were in some bother at 93-9, but a last wicket partnership between Jayden Joseph (38 not out) and Jamie Chambers (24 not out) saw them to 153-9 from their 40 overs.
Despite two wickets for Hanratty, Gloucestershire claimed the victory for the loss of four wickets in the 32ndover.
On day three, they took on Grange CC from Scotland in a T20 tournament, with the Scots batting first and finishing their allocation of overs on 155-7, Billy Anders and Edward Simkin picking up two wickets apiece.
In reply, Shropshire finished 11 runs short of their victory target on 144-6 with Adam Humphreys making 27 and Chambers 35.
They then played Northamptonshire and made 92 batting first, Simkin top scoring with 33. Northants claimed victory by six wickets in the 15th over despite Hanratty claiming two wickets.
The following day, Shropshire were back in 40-over action taking on West Wales and managed to dismiss their opponents for 102, Simkin taking 3-27, Anders 2-11 and Chambers 2-11.
There were some alarms in the reply, but they reached their victory target at the end of the 28th over with Hardy top scoring with 17 and Edward Martin unbeaten on 16 at the end.
The final day saw Shropshire involved in a play-off with Cricket North Wales for teams who finished third in their respective groups in the 40-0ver competition.
The Welsh side were bowled out for 138 with Chambers claiming 5-17 while Eoin Lloyd and James Scattergood picking up two wickets apiece.
In the reply, George Lowther made 21 but the result was in the balance with Shropshire reduced to 94-7 before Humphreys (36 not out) and Joseph (16 not out) ensured they reached the victory target in the 33rd over.
Pictures courtesy of Brian Clarke at KidzInFocus – website https://www.kidzinfocus.co.uk or email brian.clarke@kidzinfocus.co.uk
