Calmore Cougars The NatWest backed ECB Under-19 Club T20 tournament is up and running again and, if the interest shown by participating youngsters at Calmore Sports on Bank Holiday Monday is mirrored elsewhere across the region in the coming weeks, the competition promises to be a big hit once again.
Thirty 'Wessex' region clubs (including Island pair Northwood and Ventnor, and South Wilts, who play in the Wiltshire group, have entered the competition – the increased number of clubs being split into four geographical groups, writes Mike Vimpany.
The cricket authorities are conscious of the significant ‘drop out’ of young cricketers from 15 years of age upwards and hope this short format will encourage them to continue playing into adulthood.
If this week’s triangular t20 launch at Loperwood Park is to be a guide, then it should go well.
A good size crowd watched it rain fours and sixes and see hosts Calmore Cougars celebrate wins over Langley Manor and Totton & Eling Tigers. Four batsmen – Calmore pair Ben Johns and Matt Taylor, Kieran Hine (Langley Manor), and Totton’s Oli Perrin – hit fifties, as did Basingstoke's Brad Neal in the north.
Results –
Calmore Cougars 157-7 (Johns 53, Nicholson 32, Spencer 3-14,
Langley Manor 83 (Hatton 28, Johns 3-23, Stainton 3-23)
Calmore Sports won by 74 runs.
Langley Manor 114 (Hine 50, Turner 26)
Totton & Eling Tigers 116-1 (Perrin 50, Cummings 34)
Totton & Eling Tigers won by nine wickets.
Totton & Eling Tigers 137-6 (Darney 37, Mellett 24, Cummings 23)
Calmore Cougars 140-4 (Taylor 51*, Sharmaz 3-18)
Calmore Cougars won by six wickets.
The teenage Neal brothers, Brad and Ash were the star turns as Basingstoke & North Hants won their opening ECB Under-19 Club T20 group match by 78 runs at Grayshott.
On vacation from a soccer scholarship in New York, Brad hit 53 and with support from Max Harsham (29) and Martin Deadman (34), helped the Warriors to 163-2 – a total Grayshott never threatened, with spinner Ash Neal taking 4-19.
The groupings are –
Border: Bournemouth, Northwood (IoW), Parley, Ventnor.
Central: Fair Oak, Hursley Park, OTs & Romsey, Ropley, Sparsholt, Trojans.
Forest: Bashley (Rydal), Calmore Cougars, Fawley, Langley Manor, Sway, Totton Tigers.
North: Aldershot, Basingstoke & North Hants, Eversley, Grayshott Ghosts, Hook & Newnham Basics, Yateley.
South: Locks Heath, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Portsmouth & Southsea, Steep, Waterlooville.
Thirty 'Wessex' region clubs (including Island pair Northwood and Ventnor, and South Wilts, who play in the Wiltshire group, have entered the competition – the increased number of clubs being split into four geographical groups, writes Mike Vimpany.
The cricket authorities are conscious of the significant ‘drop out’ of young cricketers from 15 years of age upwards and hope this short format will encourage them to continue playing into adulthood.
If this week’s triangular t20 launch at Loperwood Park is to be a guide, then it should go well.
A good size crowd watched it rain fours and sixes and see hosts Calmore Cougars celebrate wins over Langley Manor and Totton & Eling Tigers. Four batsmen – Calmore pair Ben Johns and Matt Taylor, Kieran Hine (Langley Manor), and Totton’s Oli Perrin – hit fifties, as did Basingstoke's Brad Neal in the north.
Results –
Calmore Cougars 157-7 (Johns 53, Nicholson 32, Spencer 3-14,
Langley Manor 83 (Hatton 28, Johns 3-23, Stainton 3-23)
Calmore Sports won by 74 runs.
Langley Manor 114 (Hine 50, Turner 26)
Totton & Eling Tigers 116-1 (Perrin 50, Cummings 34)
Totton & Eling Tigers won by nine wickets.
Totton & Eling Tigers 137-6 (Darney 37, Mellett 24, Cummings 23)
Calmore Cougars 140-4 (Taylor 51*, Sharmaz 3-18)
Calmore Cougars won by six wickets.
The teenage Neal brothers, Brad and Ash were the star turns as Basingstoke & North Hants won their opening ECB Under-19 Club T20 group match by 78 runs at Grayshott.
On vacation from a soccer scholarship in New York, Brad hit 53 and with support from Max Harsham (29) and Martin Deadman (34), helped the Warriors to 163-2 – a total Grayshott never threatened, with spinner Ash Neal taking 4-19.
The groupings are –
Border: Bournemouth, Northwood (IoW), Parley, Ventnor.
Central: Fair Oak, Hursley Park, OTs & Romsey, Ropley, Sparsholt, Trojans.
Forest: Bashley (Rydal), Calmore Cougars, Fawley, Langley Manor, Sway, Totton Tigers.
North: Aldershot, Basingstoke & North Hants, Eversley, Grayshott Ghosts, Hook & Newnham Basics, Yateley.
South: Locks Heath, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Portsmouth & Southsea, Steep, Waterlooville.
