127
County Representative Boys
Warwickshire Under 17
Played 12 Won 8 Lost 4
Terry Patchett
We approached the 2015 series with high confidence: the
squad contained six top performers and additional strength
in depth. Sights were set: top the Pool in both the ECB Cup
(50 overs one day) and the ECB Championships (2 day
102 overs/day). In the Cup Northants, Staffs, Worcs were
efficiently defeated but Notts bowler Wyatt rolled over our top
order with pace which brings him Notts 2nd XI games.
So the focus shifted to the Championships where we
comfortably headed the 5 County Pool winning all our
matches. Derbyshire won their section and a remarkable
performance led by Matt Davison reduced the visitors to
39 for 5 off 9 overs in 19 balls in the semi. Rain forced
abandonment for the day after a partial steady recovery
by Derbys and next morning they inched their way to 271.
However Arjun Bath 89 and George Hargrave 55, provided a
solid platform to our winning reply.
Hampshire were the southern semi winners and we
assembled at Arundel for the Grand Final. Put in to bat, Hants
struggled to 132 for 6 when play was finally abandoned to
rain. Next morning a very determined partnership in 22 overs
took the target score to 276 off 71 overs.
Bath and Hargrave looked untroubled until Bath hit in the
air (20 for 1). Banks and Hargrave then combined for 27
overs and scored freely until the latter was adjudged lbw for
51 (139 for 2).Banton played the support role to Banks as he
strode to 97. Alas where patience would have triumphed, the
urge to get the ton with a big six was his (and our) undoing.
Thereafter the game returned to a dour accumulation of
“safe” runs, pressure mounted and Hants fielded out of their
skins. Westlake was a rock but ran out of partners. Panayi
dominated but then lost his head with a charge down the
wrong line. Warks` discipline vanished; three run outs, no
communication. Defeat by just 22 runs with 6 overs still to
bat! We were left feeling angry and frustrated for throwing
away the real chance to be National Champions.
As last year, we agreed to a couple of friendlies: in April
Shrewsbury School hosted us and provided a reality check;
their 290 for 3 off 50 proved a 100 too many but eliminated
any complacency. London Schools proved admirable hosts
in a two-day game at the Walker Ground, Southgate. With
our top three players on higher duty only Arjun Bath 95 and
George Westlake 40 shone with the bat and we were outright
losers in the 4 innings format.
It was a delight to work with Kadeer Ali and Michael Powell
and the squad surely benefited from their guidance.
Wicket for Brookes
Nearly but not quite
Under 17 Squad
Ready and waiting
