Richard White NCU PRO

For the fourth day in succession the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) Under 14's (sponsored by PwC) were batting first having won the toss against Cheshire, runaway group leaders having secured three sizeable victories.

Again, the NCU were in trouble early, at 37 for 6 struggling against the left arm spin of Barnard (2 wickets for 21 runs from 9 overs), and the left arm seam and swing of Meisura, who finished with 4 for 60 from his allotted 10 overs. Ryan Matthews struck 6 fours in scoring 31 from 49 balls to give the score some respectability but at 87 for 8 it looked gloomy for the NCU. 

Ashton Clark, coming in at 8, and 12-year-old Adam Lecky then put together a spirited partnership of 74, including an untimely lunch break (formal times for each match to ease congestion at lunchtime). Adam Lecky scored 30 from 59 balls including 3 boundaries, having been at Taunton with the Under 11's the previous year. Ashton Clark took his run tally for the week to 266 with 76 not out off 86 balls, leaving the NCU 171 all out in 44 overs.

Again, the NCU bowlers and fielders toiled away in the heat and sunshine, but despite using eight bowlers only Ryan Matthews could find the breakthrough when he bowled Bridgeman for 47, the double centurion from the previous day against California. Jude Keates took the prize scalp of Alfie Vaughan, son of Michael (former England captain), bowling him for 79 and also picked up another wicket to finish with 2 for 17 off 4 overs.

Cheshire reached the victory target of 172 in the 32nd over. 

Remaining Fixtures

• Friday 26th July: NCU Under 14 v Barbados