WINNERS CROWNED IN 2024 MIDDLESEX PLAYER TRANSITION COMPETITIONS
The 2024 Player Transition Competitions came to an end last weekend, with 92 teams from 44 clubs entering the Middlesex Youth Cup, U19 T20, and the Middlesex Development League.
The 3 competitions are designed to help clubs retain older junior players, as they make the transition to adult cricket, as many players leave the game at this time. Each competition plays its own part in targeting those young players, and giving them the platform for them to continue to enjoy their cricket as they get used to a new environment.
Middlesex Development League (MDL):
The 13th season of the MDL concluded over two Sundays in September, with Richmond Cricket Club hosting the Trophy Final on 8th September, between Barnes and Harrow St Mary’s.
A damp wicket led to a delayed start and when play was able to start the match had been reduced to 34 overs per side, with Harrow St Mary’s winning the toss and choosing to field.
Despite a solid start from Barnes, which saw an opening partnership of 41, Harrow St Mary’s decision looked to bowl soon looked to be a good one, as regular wickets fell to leave Barnes in trouble at 110 for 9. A tenth wicket stand of 31* took Barnes to 141 for 9 off their 34 overs and gave their bowlers something to defend.
In response Harrow St Mary’s also lost regular wickets but took the match to the final ball, where they needed 2 to win, with just one wicket in hand. With the light fading, Barnes took a fantastic catch to dismiss Harrow St Mary’s for 140 and win the MDL Trophy by the tightest of margins - just one run!
Eastcote took on Stoke Newington the following Sunday at Hackney Marshes, in the Shield Final.
After being put into bat by Eastcote, Stoke Newington could not get going and were bowled out for 69 off 21.3 overs.
Despite losing 3 wickets in their reply, Eastcote knocked the runs off in 15.4 overs to win the MDL Shield by 7 wickets.
Congratulations to both Barnes and Eastcote on their successful campaigns in 2024.
U19 T20:
The U19 T20 concluded with it’s traditional finals days on Bank Holiday Sunday, at the end of August. The Trophy and Shield finals days were held at North Middlesex and Harrow St Mary’s respectively.
In the Trophy Semi Finals, North Middlesex took on Brondesbury, with North Middlesex scoring 177 for 6 off their 20 overs, after being asked to bat.
In reply, Brondesbury were bowled out for 133 off 17.3 overs, meaning North Middlesex moved onto the final, having won by 33 runs.
The second semi-final saw Richmond take on Harrow. Richmond chose to bat first and made 180 for 3 off their 20 overs, before bowling out Harrow for 151 in the 20th over to wrap up a 29 run win and secure their passage into the final.
In the final, Richmond again chose to bat first, but didn’t manage to replicate their batting performance from the semi-final, being bowled out for 125 in the 20th over of their innings. In reply, North Middlesex didn’t hang around, scoring at more than 10 runs to knock off the runs in the 13th over and win by the margin of seven wickets.
In the Shield Semi Finals, Harrow St Mary’s took on Hampstead, in the first semi. Hampstead chose to bat and were restricted to 110 for 7 off their 20 overs. In reply Harrow St Mary’s knocked off the runs in 16.5 overs, winning by 8 wickets.
The second semi final saw Indian Gymkhana take on Brentham. After being asked to bowl first, a fantastic display by the Indian Gymkhana bowlers restricted Brentham to 62 for 7 off their 20 overs. In reply Indian Gymkhana went about their chase quickly, knocking the runs off in the 7th over, to win by 8 wickets.
On what had thus far been a low scoring day, the final proved to be no different.
After being put into bat Indian Gymkhana made 115 for 8 off their 20 overs, before dismissing Harrow St Mary’s for just 100, as they fell 15 runs short in their chase to see Indian Gymkhana lift the U19 T20 Shield.
Again, congratulations to North Middlesex and Indian Gymkhana on their respective successes in this year's competitions.
Middlesex Youth Cup (MYC):
The Youth Cup finals took place on the Friday Evening of the Bank Holiday weekend.
In the Trophy final, held at Harrow Cricket Club, Brondesbury took on Eastcote.
Eastcote won the toss, and chose to bat, posting 110 all out off 19.1 overs., before Brondesbury chased down the target in 17.5 overs, to secure a 6 wicket win.
The Shield Final was held at Brentham Cricket Club and saw Brentham take on Hampton Hill.
Hampton Hill chose to bat first and made 103 for 5 off their 20 overs. Once in the field, Hampton Hill took regular wickets and bowled Brentham out for 79, in 19 overs, to sin the Shield by 23 runs.
Well done to both Brondesbury and Hampton Hill on lifting silverware in this year's competitions.
INFORMATION ON 2025 PLAYER TRANSITION COMPETITIONS...
If your club is interested in entering any of the Player Transition Competitions in 2025 please email Callum Miller at the following email address: [email protected]
