Last week, three young Middlesex Women’s, and Sunrisers Academy, players were selected to play in the ECB’s National School Games tournament in Loughborough, which provides the most promising young players in the Women’s pathway across the country with the opportunity to feature in a three-day competitive tournament.
Featuring in the competition were six sides, made up of three ECB representative squads, comprising 39 of the best young players around the country, and three international Women’s Under 19 sides, from Ireland, Scotland and the West Indies.
The six sides were split in two, with three sides featuring in one of two competitions, with Team Sciver-Brunt, West Indies U19s and Team Knight competing for the Lydia Greenway Cup, whilst Ireland U19s, Scotland U19’s and Team Dunkley were in action in the Ebony Rainford-Brent Cup.
The three Middlesex Women’s players selected to feature in the tournament across the week were Molly Barbour-Smith, Sarah Pearson and Riva Pindoria.
Barbour-Smith represented Scotland Under 19s, whilst Pindoria and Pearson featured for the ECB’s Team Knight.
Whilst the three Middlesex players were focussed on delivering their skills on the cricket field over the week, they also benefitted from a wider educational programme designed for athletes across other sports too and had the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other competitors, with over 1,500 athletes present across the week in Loughborough, representing 17 different sports.
After the opening ceremony on Thursday, the cricket competition kicked off Friday, with four T20 group games scheduled across the day.
Another two group games were scheduled for Saturday morning, before Saturday afternoon would focus on a play-off game in each competition to determine who would feature in Sunday’s Final’s Day.
Below is an update on how each of the three Middlesex Women got on across the week.
Riva Pindoria’s and Sarah Pearson’s side, Team Knight, finished the week as winners of the Lydia Greenway Cup.
Their campaign kicked off with a group game victory over the West Indies U19s as they ran out comprehensive winners by 91 runs.
Pindoria, who would have to wait to be in the runs, was dismissed for just 2 in Team Knight’s total of 173 of 4, whilst Pearson went wicketless, but bowled very tidily in her three overs, going for just 8 runs as the West Indies were restricted to just 82 for 7 in reply.
Next up for Team Knight was another group clash against Team Sciver-Brunt, with Pearson returning contrasting figures to those in the opener, as she went for 45 from her 4 overs as Team Sciver-Brunt piled on 164 for 2 in their 20 overs.
A quickfire 16 off 13 deliveries from Pindoria as opener got the reply off to a solid enough start, although the innings collapsed from that point on, as Team Knight were dismissed for just 81 inside 15 overs.
That left Team Knight facing a play-off against West Indies to secure a place in Sunday’s final, and when it was needed most, Pindoria stepped up and delivered, hitting 52 off 42 balls to help Team Knight post 184 for 5 in their 20 overs.
It was far too many for the West Indies, who had lost both of their group games, once already to Team Knight, and they were dismissed for just 75 in 19 overs, with Pearson returning figures of 1 for 8 from two very tight overs.
Having booked their place in the final, Team Knight took on Team Sciver-Brunt, who had demolished them in their earlier group game.
Revenge was secured however, as another impressive knock from Pindoria helped Team Knight to a total of 147 for 9, with the young Middlesex star hitting 40 from 32 balls to get the innings off to a flying start.
In reply, Team Sciver-Brunt fell just 3 runs short in their reply, posting 144 for 9 to see Team Knight crowned champions of the Lydia Greenway Cup.
Barbour Smith’s Scotland side were to enjoy no such success however, although there were wickets for the young Middlesex player in two of the games Scotland lost in.
Against Ireland Under 19s Barbour-Smith returned figures of 1 for 25 from 2 overs, as her Irish opponents posted 175 for 5 in their 20 overs, and again against Team Dunkley, Barbour-Smith picked up a wicket, returning figures of 1 for 11 from 2 very useful overs.
Barbour-Smith’s efforts weren’t enough to avoid Scotland losing all three of their games across the week however, as they missed out on appearance in Sunday’s Finals Day.
It was a fantastic week of competitive cricket for all those involved, and individually each of the three Middlesex players played a part in their team’s performances.
Congratulations to all involved and you should all be proud of your achievements.
