U18 girls claim victory over Worcs
Cricket Shropshire’s Under 18 Girls bounced back from a tricky start to claim a six-wicket victory over Worcestershire in their opening fixture in their ECB 50-over Group One campaign at Halesowen.
It looked like Shropshire were going to regret their decision to insert Worcestershire as the hosts raced to 98-1 before an inspirational period of fielding from debutant Miley Aston changed the game.
Her two run outs and a catch helped reduce the score to 106-4.
The momentum was then firmly with the visitors as they reduced the opposition to 175 all out – the last eight wickets falling for 77 with Lauren Kenvyn, Millie Parry and Isabelle Crann all claiming two apiece.
The openers Erin Newey and Amber Daniels-Sanders set a platform for the chase and when Amy Griffiths and Lauren Kenvyn 3rd wicket partnership got going there was no looking back.
The 116-run stand between Griffiths (74 off just 54 balls) and Kenvyn (37 not out) meant there were few scares as they claimed victory in the 27th over.
Coach Darrell Corfield said: “It was a really satisfying result after a difficult start, but the determination of the team to drag it back in the field was a credit to them and bodes well for the remainder of the Summer.”
The Under 14 Boys were indebted to a fine 82 from opener Ollie Dyson when they travelled to Oundle School to take on Northamptonshire.
His innings provided the backbone to Shropshire’s 217 before they were dismissed batting first, Jake Van Custem chipping in with 33.
But coach Tyler Ibbotson said: “Our innings was marred by a loss of wickets in clusters, preventing the boys from capitalizing fully on what was considered a very good batting wicket.”
Northants began their chase aggressively, benefiting from some wayward bowling by the Shropshire attack.
The game took a turn when the spinners were introduced, bringing control and taking key wickets with Matthew Smith and Lakmin Ippeperuma claiming two apiece, which temporarily swung the momentum back in Shropshire’s favour.
But the Northants sixth wicket partnership saw them to victory
Tyler added: “Despite the loss, there were notable positives for Shropshire, particularly the performance of the spinners in the middle overs.”
The Under 13 Boys were just edged out by 10 runs when they hosted Worcestershire at Cound CC.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Pears finished their 40 overs on 230-9 with Fin Bradbury leading the Shropshire attack well claiming 4-40 while Dylan Barkley picked up 2-39.
In reply, opener Lucas Marshall hit 49 and skipper Harry Dillon 82, but Shropshire just failed to get over the line finishing on 220-9.
The Under 16 Boys found themselves up against it when they travelled to West Bromwich Dartmouth to take on Warwickshire.
The Bears batted first and racked up 272-9 in their 50 overs with Will Walker claiming 3-42 and Rufus Drake and Dhairya Jani two wickets apiece.
The Shropshire reply failed to get going, and despite 26 from Yumeth Athauda, 30 from Harry Parton and 23 from Drake, they were dismissed for 123.
Pictured above: the Under 14s at Oundle School.