Warwickshire’s Under-14s underlined their exciting potential by claiming their national cup to round off an unbeaten campaign.
They beat Essex by six wickets in the final at Loughborough on Wednesday (30 August) having topped the North Group and fending off tough competition from Derbyshire and Lancashire in the knock-out stages.
Essex set a target of 202 but thanks to 72 from young Bears opener Hamza Khan (ten 4s) and an unbeaten 86 from Omaris Khan (eight 4s, three 6s) the Under-14s side reached their target with 16 balls left of their 45 overs.
Warwickshire spinners Jack Pidgeon took three for 37, while Eddie Miller got two for 43 and Charlie Taylor two for 39.
Warwickshire High Performance Manager Paul Greetham said the cup success was down to a great team performance through the tournament.
He added: “I’m really proud of the players’ development as individuals and as a unit; the trophy is testament to their progress, their hard work and the efforts of our coaching team in recent months.
“Cup knockout competitions and finals are an opportunity to put skills, tactics and physical competency under the toughest possible pressure – a test these players passed with flying colours in the latter rounds of the competition.
“The temperament shown by the top order batters in the chase was outstanding against an impressive Essex bowling unit.
“Essex put us under pressure but, as has transpired throughout the season, we bossed the middle overs with tight spells of spin bowling.
“Onwards and upwards for these players who have encouraging futures.”
Applications are currently open for boys and girls to join Warwickshire’s Youth Pathway.
Girls from U11s to U18s and boys from U13s can apply by sending in video footage of the batting, bowling or wicketkeeping for assessment, before successful applicants are invited in for a series of coaching sessions between October and November.
Information on how to apply is available here.
Photos courtesy of www.photosunlimited.org.uk.
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