Having highlighted the achievements of both Shepherd’s Bush Cricket Club and Gunnersbury Women’s Cricket Club last week (see article here), for their recent success in the ECB National T20 competitions, there’s been no shortage of things to celebrate in the ECB’s National Youth competitions too, with plenty of success for both Boys and Girls Clubs across Middlesex.
The achievements of Middlesex recreational club's youth sides who have been flying the flag for the county are rounded up below, with plenty of successes to celebrate at both Richmond and Ealing Cricket Clubs:
It's been a fantastic summer for Richmond Cricket Club's Under 13 Boys' side this season, who have progressed through to the ECB National U13 Boys semi-final.
Richmond's campaign began in the London and East Group, and they kicked off with a five wicket win over Ashtead CC from Kent in round one back in July. This was followed by a comfortable 87 run win over Wokingham from Surrey in round two, who Richmond dismissed for just 29 runs having posted 116 themselves.
Stony Stratford CC from Milton Keynes came next in the regional semi-final, who Richmond duly despatched with a six wicket win, chasing down Stony Stratford's total of 86 with over seven overs of the game remaining to earn a place in the London and East regional final.
That was against Oakfield Parkonians from Essex, who were no match for Richmond, dismissed for just 72, which was chased down by Richmond inside twelve overs to progress on in the competition to the national knockout stages.
Richmond's reward for winning the London and East Group was a place in the national semi-final, where they will take on Lisvane Cricket Club from Cardiff, who came through the South and West Group, with the national semi-final taking place today at Wokingham Cricket Club.
The other national semi-final sees Didsbury CC from Lancashire taking on Dorridge CC from Warwickshire, with the winners of both this game and Richmond's tie against Lisvane earning a place in the national final of the competition.
We wish Richmond Boys every success in today's semi-final against Lisvane CC.
Ealing Cricket Club's Under 13 Girls have been the standout side in Middlesex this season in the Girls Under 13s competition, getting all the way to the regional final of their group.
Ealing's T20 campaign began with a bye in the first round of the competition, which saw them progress into round two without the need to bowl a ball. In round two they faced local side Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club, who conceded the tie to see Ealing move into round three without breaking sweat. Round three saw them in action for the first time, as they brushed Richmond Girls aside by three wickets to move into the regional quarter-finals. Here they drew Slough Cricket Club from Berkshire, who were no match for Ealing as they sealed their place in the regional semi-final with a comfortable seven wicket win.
Up next was a tie against Billericay CC from Essex, who were outplayed by Ealing, who ran out winners by 78 runs to earn their place in the regional final where they would take on Spencer CC from Surrey.
Getting past a strong Spencer CC side proved a step too far for Ealing, as they were beaten by 23 runs after Spencer had piled on 161 runs in their 20 overs, seeing Spencer progress into the national stages of the competition.
Ealing Cricket Club again stood out as the Middlesex side to beat in the Under 15 Boys' competition, going all the way to the regional finals of the competition.
Their campaign got underway with a bye in round one of the competition, before they took on Great Brickhill Cricket Club from Milton Keynes in round two, who were no match for Ealing on the day. Ealing smashed 172 for 4 in their 20 overs before bowling out their opponents for just 89 to record a win by 83 runs.
In round three, the regional semi-final, Ealing were drawn against Bexley Cricket Club from Kent, who were beaten by five wickets after being dismissed for just 89 having elected to bat. Ealing knocked off the runs in 16 overs to progress to the regional final where they would face Esher Cricket Club from Surrey.
Esher had reached the final having beaten Copdock and Old Ipswichian Cricket Club in their regional semi-final, when they'd hit a huge total of 176 for 3 in their 20 overs to secure a comfortable 86 run win.
In the regional final Esher proved too strong for Ealing, who were restricted to 107 for 8 in their 20 overs, before the Surrey side knocked off the runs for the loss of five wickets in the nineteenth over to secure their place in the national stage of the competition.
Richmond Girls flew the flag for Middlesex in the Under 15 Girls competition, making it all the way to the regional final of the competition.
They kicked off the competition with a bye in round one before taking on Henley Cricket Club back in May in round two. Batting first, Richmond Girls piled on 172 for 2 in their 20 overs, before restricting Henley to just 70 in reply to secure a massive 102 run victory.
In round three they faced local Middlesex opponents Harrow, when again the Richmond batters were in the runs, putting on a big total of 154 for 3 in their 20 overs before dismissing Harrow for just 94 in reply to earn a 60 run victory and a place in the regional quarter-finals.
Here they faced Slough from Berkshire, where again the Richmond batters did the business, hitting 153 for 7 in their 20 overs which proved far too many for Slough to chase down, as they were bowled out for 113 runs to see Richmond win by 40 runs.
The regional semi-final saw Richmond take on Upminster CC from Essex, who were thoroughly outplayed by Richmond who ran amok with the bat, piling on a huge total of 197 without loss before bowling out their Essex opponents for just 42 in reply to secure a huge win by 155 runs and earn a place in the regional final.
The final saw Richmond face a tie against a strong side from Dulwich in South London, who bowled tightly to restrict Richmond's explosive batting unit to just 126 for 6 in their 20 overs. Dulwich went about the chase with gusto, and duly chased down their victory target in the seventeenth over to knock Richmond out of the competition and progress to the national stages themselves.
It's been Richmond again who have shone in the Girls Under 19's competition, with Richmond progressing into the national semi-finals as winners of their regional group.
It all kicked off for Richmond girls with a first round tie against Esher CC from Surrey, who conceded the game and gave Richmond a free passage through into the second round of the regional competition.
Here they were due to face another Surrey side, East Molesey Cricket Club, although another concession from their opponents automatically saw Richmond go through to the regional quarter-finals without having yet even bowled a ball in anger.
In the last eight of the regional competition Richmond finally got into action, and scraped through a nail-biting encounter against Slough Cricket Club from Berkshire by just 2 runs. Richmond were asked to bat first and posted 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, before the Berkshire side ran them close, eventually falling just short in their run chase, posting 126 for 6 in reply.
Richmond's reward was a regional semi-final against Beckenham from Kent, who conceded the tie to give Richmond an automatic passage into the regional final, despite only having played one match to get there!
In the regional final last Friday it was Beaconsfield from Buckinghamshire who stood in Richmond's way of progressing through to the national finals, although on the day they proved no match for Richmond. Winning the toss and batting, Richmond smashed a massive 197 for 5 in their 20 overs to set the Buckinghamshire side an absolute mountain of a run chase. In reply they could neither match Richmond's fluent run-scoring, nor the quality of their bowling attack, as Beaconsfield were dismissed for just 87 to see Richmond progress through to the national knockout stages, by virtue of a 110 run victory.
Richmond await the details of who they will play in the national semi-final.
Good luck to them in the semi-final and congratulations to all the sides who have done the county so proud in representing Middlesex to such a high standard this summer.
