Portsmouth Grammar School Back (from left): Will futcher, Sam Caldera, Dan Mugford, Jay Hartard, Harry hoolahan, Harry Wratton, Ned Renwick Front: Joe Kooner-evans, Ben Caldera, Jadon buckeridge, Charlie Connaughton, Alex willoughby.
Portsmouth Grammar are national Under-17 cricket champions after winning the prestigious School Sports magazine cup.
They won the final at Cumnor, near Oxford, in most dramatic style, beating the strongly fancied Sedbergh off the penultimate ball of a pulsating 40-over affair, with their last pair at the crease.
Harry Hoolahan was the PGS match winner, hitting an unbeaten 26 as his side scrambled a one-wicket victory chasing down Sedbergh’s 174-9.
The match ebbed and flowed throughout, with some pretty undistinguished batting from the talented Sedbergh top order leaving the Cumbrian innings in disarray at 60-6.
Yorkshire 2nd XI prospect Harry Brook, who had played for the MCC Schools against ESCA at Lord’s the previous day, and Durham’s Alex Simpson were among the early fallers – the latter being a second run out victim !
They won the final at Cumnor, near Oxford, in most dramatic style, beating the strongly fancied Sedbergh off the penultimate ball of a pulsating 40-over affair, with their last pair at the crease.
Harry Hoolahan was the PGS match winner, hitting an unbeaten 26 as his side scrambled a one-wicket victory chasing down Sedbergh’s 174-9.
The match ebbed and flowed throughout, with some pretty undistinguished batting from the talented Sedbergh top order leaving the Cumbrian innings in disarray at 60-6.
Yorkshire 2nd XI prospect Harry Brook, who had played for the MCC Schools against ESCA at Lord’s the previous day, and Durham’s Alex Simpson were among the early fallers – the latter being a second run out victim !
Harry Hoolahan - Portsmouth Grammar School “We fielded with a great deal of energy and intensity throughout and this positive approach enabled them to run out two of Sedbergh’s top-order batsman,” beamed PGS head of cricket Scott Curwood.
PGS bowled with discipline and control, taking wickets at regular intervals, ensuring Sedbergh’s run rate was under control, with Ryde-based Harry Wratten taking 3-41.
As side as strong as Sedbergh, who had knocked out the powerful Shrewsbury in the semi-finals, were not going to lie down and a splendid half-century by James Park-Thomas (56), with support from Sam Barrett (28), helped them reach 174-9 in 40 overs.
Portsmouth Grammar had shared the School Sports magazine trophy with Shrewsbury two years ago after the 2013 final was washed out at tea.
Sam Caldera (30) and Jadon Buckeridge (21) made their mark in an encouraging PGS response, but apart from two 30 stands, there were no partnerships.
Wickets began to fall all too regularly, Barrett taking 3-25 as PGS dropped to 122-7 and a little later 142-8.
But the ninth-wicket partnership of 30 between Hoolahan and Wratten took PGS to three runs from the winning total.
PGS required just three runs to win with two wickets remaining.
Wratten was promptly bowled by Craig Sanders (2-33), bringing the youngest PGS player, Joe Kooner-Evans, 14, to the crease amid great tension.
Kooner-Evans played and missed, then scrambled a single of the third ball. 173-8.
PGS now needed two runs from three balls with one wicket left.
The third ball of the final over was eventful.
Hoolahan tried to take a single but was sent back by Kooner-Evans, but was out of his ground as Sanders missed the stumps from four yards out.
Hoolahan needed two runs off two balls – but the West Sussex teenager promptly struck the penultimate delivery just beyond the reach of mid-off to score the two runs PGS needed to win the match.
An overjoyed Curwood said: “It was an outstanding team performance from all players involved.
“They should be extremely proud of this national title and all the hard work they have put in throughout their years at PGS.
“This result is just reward for all their impressive commitment, team work and dedication.”
PGS bowled with discipline and control, taking wickets at regular intervals, ensuring Sedbergh’s run rate was under control, with Ryde-based Harry Wratten taking 3-41.
As side as strong as Sedbergh, who had knocked out the powerful Shrewsbury in the semi-finals, were not going to lie down and a splendid half-century by James Park-Thomas (56), with support from Sam Barrett (28), helped them reach 174-9 in 40 overs.
Portsmouth Grammar had shared the School Sports magazine trophy with Shrewsbury two years ago after the 2013 final was washed out at tea.
Sam Caldera (30) and Jadon Buckeridge (21) made their mark in an encouraging PGS response, but apart from two 30 stands, there were no partnerships.
Wickets began to fall all too regularly, Barrett taking 3-25 as PGS dropped to 122-7 and a little later 142-8.
But the ninth-wicket partnership of 30 between Hoolahan and Wratten took PGS to three runs from the winning total.
PGS required just three runs to win with two wickets remaining.
Wratten was promptly bowled by Craig Sanders (2-33), bringing the youngest PGS player, Joe Kooner-Evans, 14, to the crease amid great tension.
Kooner-Evans played and missed, then scrambled a single of the third ball. 173-8.
PGS now needed two runs from three balls with one wicket left.
The third ball of the final over was eventful.
Hoolahan tried to take a single but was sent back by Kooner-Evans, but was out of his ground as Sanders missed the stumps from four yards out.
Hoolahan needed two runs off two balls – but the West Sussex teenager promptly struck the penultimate delivery just beyond the reach of mid-off to score the two runs PGS needed to win the match.
An overjoyed Curwood said: “It was an outstanding team performance from all players involved.
“They should be extremely proud of this national title and all the hard work they have put in throughout their years at PGS.
“This result is just reward for all their impressive commitment, team work and dedication.”
Portsmouth Grammar are national Under-17 cricket champions after winning the prestigious School Sports magazine cup.
They won the final at Cumnor, near Oxford, in most dramatic style, beating the strongly fancied Sedbergh off the penultimate ball of a pulsating 40-over affair, with their last pair at the crease.
Harry Hoolahan was the PGS match winner, hitting an unbeaten 26 as his side scrambled a one-wicket victory chasing down Sedbergh’s 174-9.
The match ebbed and flowed throughout, with some pretty undistinguished batting from the talented Sedbergh top order leaving the Cumbrian innings in disarray at 60-6.
Yorkshire 2nd XI prospect Harry Brook, who had played for the MCC Schools against ESCA at Lord’s the previous day, and Durham’s Alex Simpson were among the early fallers – the latter being a second run out victim !
They won the final at Cumnor, near Oxford, in most dramatic style, beating the strongly fancied Sedbergh off the penultimate ball of a pulsating 40-over affair, with their last pair at the crease.
Harry Hoolahan was the PGS match winner, hitting an unbeaten 26 as his side scrambled a one-wicket victory chasing down Sedbergh’s 174-9.
The match ebbed and flowed throughout, with some pretty undistinguished batting from the talented Sedbergh top order leaving the Cumbrian innings in disarray at 60-6.
Yorkshire 2nd XI prospect Harry Brook, who had played for the MCC Schools against ESCA at Lord’s the previous day, and Durham’s Alex Simpson were among the early fallers – the latter being a second run out victim !
