Congratulations to all the teams who took part in the Winter Colts Competition Finals in 2010
Tony Ward from Middlesex Colts tells us about the exciting Under 11 Semi Finals and Finals
| Under 11s Final | ||
Sheen Park 113/3 |
beat | Primrose Park 112/4 |
| Under 13 Final | ||
| Bessborough | beat | Ealing |
| Under 15 Final | ||
| Bessborough | beat | Wembley |
Despite the unseasonable heat outside, Sheen Park Under 11's coolly annexed the County Indoor Title at Hampton School on the last Saturday of the Easter holidays.
Led from the front by an outstanding Ronin Harvey-Kelly, who had superb lieutenants in Max Read and Henry Berry, Sheen produced two disciplined team performances to push aside the challenges of Eastcote and Primrose Hill. Ultimately it was strength-in-depth that proved the difference in both games, with fielding, so often Sheen's achilles heel, being the best on display from any side on the day. Ross Menhennet's run-outs in harness with Harvey-Kelly to limit the threat of the Eastcote openers Mohammed and Barry were arguably the critical moments in the semi-final.
When Bradley Erasmus played at Sheen, Paul, his dad, always emphasised the importance of winning two of the three cricketing disciplines to claim games - and Sheen were spot on in all three in both matches played. Eastcote had, like Sheen, failed to qualify for the Gubby Allen final last summer by a whisker (a Cup tournament for Middlesex U10 teams) so they were always going to be a test. But on this occasion, Sheen's mixed squad of U11's and U10's won with something to spare.
Put in to bat by Eastcote in the semi-final, Abdullah Nazir departed early, but Tom Brunskill played well for his 24 with Read (30*) biding his time before cutting loose with the powerful Harvey-Kelly (20). It was left to Henry Berry (17 off five balls) to lift the total, vitally, past 120. At 70-2 after eight overs in reply, Eastcote were well set, but the retirement of Wijesuryia (30*) exposed an inexperienced middle order and just five runs came from the next three overs. With 36 needed off the 12th and final over the match was done. Berry bowled beautifully at the death to concede just 10 runs in two overs.
COUNTY SEMI-FINAL:
Sheen Park 121-3 (Brunskill 24, Read 30*, Harvey-Kelly 20, Berry 17*) beat Eastcote 107-2 (Read 0-38, Smith 0-23, Nazir 0-20, Whittaker 0-9, Berry 0-10) by 14 runs.
Like Sheen, Primrose Hill were a team of all-round strength so winning the toss in the final was a vital advantage. Harvey-Kelly inserted the opposition who scored heavily in the early overs and after eight were an impressive 82-3. But as in the semi-final, Sheen claimed wickets with run-outs to peg back the opposition and the with retirement of Schott for 31 Primrose Hill were only able to add 30 in their last four overs to stutter to 112-4. Again, there was the early loss of Nazir in reply, but first Read steadied the ship with a 24 ball 32 not out and then Berry struck a brisk 14. >br> The game was still in the balance when Harry Smith strode to the crease, but with his entrance came a stunning onslaught where 38 runs came off 11 balls - including an outrageous 24 off one over - and Sheen romped home with 15 balls to spare.
Led from the front by an outstanding Ronin Harvey-Kelly, who had superb lieutenants in Max Read and Henry Berry, Sheen produced two disciplined team performances to push aside the challenges of Eastcote and Primrose Hill. Ultimately it was strength-in-depth that proved the difference in both games, with fielding, so often Sheen's achilles heel, being the best on display from any side on the day. Ross Menhennet's run-outs in harness with Harvey-Kelly to limit the threat of the Eastcote openers Mohammed and Barry were arguably the critical moments in the semi-final.
When Bradley Erasmus played at Sheen, Paul, his dad, always emphasised the importance of winning two of the three cricketing disciplines to claim games - and Sheen were spot on in all three in both matches played. Eastcote had, like Sheen, failed to qualify for the Gubby Allen final last summer by a whisker (a Cup tournament for Middlesex U10 teams) so they were always going to be a test. But on this occasion, Sheen's mixed squad of U11's and U10's won with something to spare.
Put in to bat by Eastcote in the semi-final, Abdullah Nazir departed early, but Tom Brunskill played well for his 24 with Read (30*) biding his time before cutting loose with the powerful Harvey-Kelly (20). It was left to Henry Berry (17 off five balls) to lift the total, vitally, past 120. At 70-2 after eight overs in reply, Eastcote were well set, but the retirement of Wijesuryia (30*) exposed an inexperienced middle order and just five runs came from the next three overs. With 36 needed off the 12th and final over the match was done. Berry bowled beautifully at the death to concede just 10 runs in two overs.
COUNTY SEMI-FINAL:
Like Sheen, Primrose Hill were a team of all-round strength so winning the toss in the final was a vital advantage. Harvey-Kelly inserted the opposition who scored heavily in the early overs and after eight were an impressive 82-3. But as in the semi-final, Sheen claimed wickets with run-outs to peg back the opposition and the with retirement of Schott for 31 Primrose Hill were only able to add 30 in their last four overs to stutter to 112-4. Again, there was the early loss of Nazir in reply, but first Read steadied the ship with a 24 ball 32 not out and then Berry struck a brisk 14. >br> The game was still in the balance when Harry Smith strode to the crease, but with his entrance came a stunning onslaught where 38 runs came off 11 balls - including an outrageous 24 off one over - and Sheen romped home with 15 balls to spare.