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Under 19’s Report by Paul Greetham
The Warwickshire U19’s play in a six county competition
alongside Derbyshire, Middlesex, Lancashire, Yorkshire and
Durham. Matches are two day affairs and follow roughly the
same format as the ECB U17 Championship. Although the
U19 Northern Counties Competition is not an official ECB
competition, matches are played hard with plenty of 2nd XI
experience or potential on show each match.
This season, we warmed up with a two day match vs
Northamptonshire, whilst also playing Worcestershire in a
three day affair.
Other cricket involving players in a similar age range
included matches against minor county development
XI’s (mostly U23’s), League XI’s and touring teams from
overseas. We generally took this opportunity to play a one
or two overage players as well as involve U17, U19 and
Academy cricketers – more of a Development XI.
The U19 Northern Counties Competition 2015
FINAL TABLE
County Played Won Tied/
Draw Lost Abandoned Points
Derbyshire
5
4
0 1
0
67
Yorkshire
5
2
1 2
0
62
Durham
5
2
0 2
1
61
Warwickshire
5
2
0 3
0
58
Middlesex
5
2
1 2
0
53
Lancashire
5
1
1 2
1
45
As demonstrated in the League table, things were very
tight right until the final few overs of the final match of the
season between Warwickshire and Durham. Warwickshire
might have finished second but for falling 13 runs short in
a dramatic match at the Emirates ICG. Read on for more
details!
Game 1 vs Derbyshire (Swarkestone CC)
Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat
Derbyshire 1st Innings – 371 all out
Warwickshire 1st Innings – 226 all out
Derbyshire (18 points) defeated Warwickshire (6 points) on
1st Innings
On a very hot day at the start of July staring at a good
surface, the Warwickshire batsmen were disappointed
not to get first use of it. However with Derbyshire 142 for 6
half way through the afternoon session, Warwickshire had
bowled and fielded themselves into a good position. The
Derbyshire seventh wicket partnership then fought back
putting on 102, and the ninth wicket a further 90 with the
Derbys number eight finishing unbeaten on 113. The hottest
day of the year to date had taken its toll on Warwickshire’s
lines and lengths, combined with a slightly over offensive
period in the second session which allowed partnerships to
develop. Openers Banks and Umeed were both lost on 17
in reply, and it was down to Captain Matthew Lamb to show
the rest of the order how to do it with an impressive 116,
with the next highest score a disappointing 22. With rain
around on the second afternoon, and few overs to play with,
the two teams shook hands on a one innings match which
eventual competition winners Derbyshire had dominated
from mid-way through the first afternoon.
Game 2 vs Lancashire (King Edward’s School,
Birmingham)
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat
Lancashire 1st Innings – 319 all out
Warwickshire 1st Innings – 320 for 5 declared
Lancashire 2nd Innings – 87 for 5
Warwickshire (20 points) defeated Lancashire (6 points) on
1st innings
On a surface which always looked as if it might
encourage spin as the game developed, Lancashire won
the toss and predictably chose to bat first. The Lancashire
openers started very well putting on 119 for the first wicket,
but it was the medium pacers and then the spin of
Michael Waugh and Sunny Singh that started to turn the
screw as the day one developed. Regular wickets fell once
the first breakthrough was made, and Waugh (6/64) and
Singh (2/64) did the majority of the damage and bowling,
working hard for 50 overs between them. Warwickshire’s
first wicket fell on 44 (George Hargrave 19), however
Andy Umeed (108) and Matthew Lamb (116) developed a
dominant 175 run partnership which zapped much of the
Lancashire spirit. Despite one or two wobbles when closing
on the Lancashire total, 15 year old Rob Yates and
Brinder Phagura saw the Bears past the Lancs total. There
was still time to collect some much needed bonus points
and five Lancashire wickets were taken in their second
innings once again to the spinners – Michael Waugh
finishing with the ten in the match and 4/29 second time
round.
Game 3 vs Middlesex (Merchant Taylor’s School)
Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat
Middlesex 1st Innings - 401 for 5 declared
Warwickshire 1st Innings – 272 all out
Middlesex (18 points) defeated Warwickshire (5 points) on
1st innings
Once again, on a very good surface and warm day in
London, an important toss went against Captain Matthew
Lamb, and the Middlesex batsmen certainly enjoyed
day one with a feast of indifferent bowling at times on
an excellent surface to bat. Lamb was perhaps the most
effective and economical of the seamers taking 2/38
from 15 overs, and on a rare occasion this summer, the
Warwickshire spinners were unable to wrestle any control.
Dropped catches were costly too, as professionally
contracted opening batsman Steel for Middlesex was
dropped in quick succession early on in an otherwise
impressive century. Warwickshire openers Povey and
Ahmed safely saw the team to the end of day one
unharmed in an awkward eight over spell. It was the turn of
Academy batsman Oliver Haley to notch up three figures
on day two, pulling, driving and sweeping confidently on his
way to 115, and despite some lower order resistance from
Brookes 28 and Singh 22, Warwickshire were bowled out in
the final session on day two and the sides shook hands on
a one innings match.
Game 4 vs Yorkshire (Moseley CC)
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat
