As the rain falls this week and causes some minor disruption to the Warwickshire programme, Warwickshire boys, girls and women can reflect on a positive couple of weeks, as the season gets into full swing.
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BOYS
At U19 boys level, Warwickshire recorded two 50 over victories over a Staffordshire (U25) Development XI and Eton College. Nick Hammond (103) and George Sellers (78) were the mainstays of a very competitive 284/5 for Warwickshire. Spinners Calvin Harrison (5/35) and Ben Waring (2/28) did most of the damage as Staffordshire fell 76 runs short on 208/9. Against Eton College, Shoaib Akhtar continued his fine start to the season for Warwickshire with 82, supported By Jamie Harrison (55); Warwickshire reaching 271 from their allotted overs. Once again it was the spin of Mohammed Ahmed (2/38), Ben Waring (2/14) and Calvin Harrison (3/30) who undid a spirited Eton response – who ended on 161/8.
The U15 boys commenced their Royal London Cup campaign with a victory over Staffordshire by four wickets
The U17 boys have commenced their Royal London Cup campaign with two confident victories against Staffordshire and Wales. Following a strong start from opener Rob Yates (47), Ben Chapman-Lilley (90) and Jacques Banton (96) put the Staffordshire bowling to the sword. Dan Mousley ended the innings with a brisk 42 from 20 balls, and Warwickshire closed their innings on 304/5. Staffordshire’s innings never really got going, and were all out for 177. Wickets were shared amongst seamers Ethan Brookes (2/31), Jordan Hoffman (2/27) and Sahal Malvernkar (2/13). In the second cup match of Whit week, it was a similar story, with strong Warwickshire batting first up – William Rigg scoring 74 off as many balls, and Ben Chapman-Lilley with another half century – this time 69. Wickets were once again shared, with the spin of Mohammed Ahmed (3/48) and Rob Yates (2/14) accounting for half of the Welsh batsmen, and opening bowlers George Garrett (2/38) and Jordan Hoffman (2/26) taking key top order wickets. In two recent friendly T20 matches vs Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire won one and lost one.
The U15 boys commenced their Royal London Cup campaign with a victory over Staffordshire by four wickets, following two warm-up victories against Gloucestershire and Malvern College. Against Staffordshire, and in the host’s total of 190ao, left arm spinner Arthur Garrett was the pick of the bowlers with 4/33 from 10 overs. In reply, Warwickshire were 41/3 and 111/5, but opener Griegan French continued his fine early season form with a commanding 93, with support from Manraj Johal, who ended 32 not out.
The U14 boys play in a regional Royal London Cup group which unlike the older age groups, does not lead to national knock out rounds and Final. Wales were their first opponents and having won the toss and batted, Warwickshire posted 162 with Mo Talukder top scoring with 41. In reply, Wales looked like they were cruising at 101/2, however the spin of Ben Jones (5/22) and Ibrahim Afzal (2/18) put an abrupt end to the hopes of a Welsh victory, with the opposition shot out for 122.
The U13 boys have played just one match against Staffordshire which resulted in a resounding ten wicket victory for the Bears. Left arm spinner Ollie Davidson picked up 2/22 from his nine overs, but it was the Warwickshire opening batsmen who made the headlines with a 162 run partnership – Sachin Dubb with 102* and Ismail Mohammed 37*. Congratulations to both on a fantastic achievement.
Although the U11’s are yet to start their programme, the U12 boys and U10 Cubs have both played one match, and although they ended in defeats (both to Gloucestershire), there were some good performances. Not least from Archie Willox, who in his first Warwickshire (U10 Cubs) match ever, scored 60 to take his team to within 33 runs of the opposition. Left arm seamer Mohammed Ismail Khan took 3/22 from his eight overs in the same match.
GIRLS & WOMEN
The Warwickshire Women 1st XI have won all five of their county championship fixtures so far – topping the Royal London 1st Division at the time of writing. The wins have come against Kent, Sussex, Berkshire, Nottinghamshire and Middlesex. Individual mentions to Anisha Patel taking 12 wickets to date with best figures of 6/17, Lizzie Russell who was presented with her hundredth cap at the start of the fixture against Nottinghamshire and has taken 10 wickets so far with best figures of 4/12. And finally Sophie Devine, our New Zealand overseas player, who scored 122 in only her second game for Warwickshire!
Individual mentions to Anisha Patel taking 12 wickets to date with best figures of 6/17
The 2nd XI have started strongly beating Middlesex by 84 runs and Lancashire by 122 runs. Both performances were fantastic all round team efforts with the bat, and Misha Patel took 4/9 off 10 overs against Lancashire to star with the ball.
The girls U17’s won both of their T20 matches to date. Firstly, beating Gloucestershire by 20 runs; Amelia Kite with 56 and the wickets shared amongst Isabelle Wong, Ria Fackrell, Tiarna Gilkes and Amelia Kite. The other victory came against Worcestershire convincingly by 120 runs. Ria Fackrell scored 77* and Isabelle Wong 32. Alice Dixon (3/6) and Emily Farmer (4/12) being the pick of the bowlers.
The U15 girls lost their first cup match to Buckinghamshire however bounced back with two wins in the T20 format beating Northamptonshire by five wickets with Grace Ballinger seeing the game through finishing on 40*, and Buckinghamshire by 72 runs. In this match Isabelle Wong took two wickets and scored 36 with the bat. Grace Ballinger scored 37, with Molly Burke and Emily Naylor booth taking two wickets.
The U13 girls have won their first four games of the season. Victories have come against Shropshire by three wickets – Sophie Hughes 5/6 off 3.5 overs; Buckinghamshire by one wicket – Emily Bicknell taking 4/11; Oxfordshire by 10 wickets – Laura Smitten with 47* and Sophie Hughes 37* and Oxfordshire again by 8 wickets – Sophie Hughes with 4/9 and Ffion Purviss (who is an U11) scoring 21*.
