Thursday 8 July 2010

Manchester Grammar School U13 cricketers stumped the opposition by achieving national success today winning the National Cup for the first time in the School’s history, against Portsmouth Grammar School.

A total of 1400 schools compete for the trophy, with the MGS team qualifying for the competition back in 2009, by winning the Lancashire Cup against Bolton.

In the North of England nationals, the U13s easily beat Stockport Grammar to come up against Humberside’s top team, Hymer’s from Hull, in the quarter finals. They won by 64 runs with Peter Makin making an elegant 45 not out and Johnny Scurrah a battling 22 in their 129 from 35 overs. Makin then blitzed the opposition taking three wickets with his seam and swing, supported by young battering-ram paceman Joe Smith-Butler who blasted out two of Hymer’s top order.

As North of England Champions, the U13s went on to beat Abingdon in the semi-final to reach the final against the champions of the south of England, Portsmouth Grammar, at Oakham School.

The team beat Portsmouth in the 35-over match by 46 runs having batting first and made 190 for nine. Ross Hook top scored with incredibly impressive 89, with significant contributions also coming from Jonny Scurrah and Ben Bianchi.

U-13 Coach, Mike Strother, commented: It was an extremely positive start for the bowlers keeping Portsmouth to under two and over for the first half of their innings.

He continued:  I was delighted with the batting performance as it represented a higher total than the boys had set themselves at the beginning.  They went to lunch happy that their batting performance had given them a good chance to win the game.

Wickets were shared amongst the team, but Jonny Scurrah took three for eleven and George Slade took three for 35.  Portsmouth eventually made 144 all out.

Mike said: I have seen first hand the hard work and dedication of the boys both in training and in the matches throughout the season; they are one of the best teams MGS has had and I’m absolutely thrilled with their achievement.

Man of the match was Ross Hook who made 89 runs.

Top row left to right: Ben Bodha (Captain), Charlie Barker (Wicket Keeper), Peter Makin, Jordan Bullock, Ben Bianchi, Piyush Varma, Joe Smith-Bulter, David Moss (Head of Cricket)

Bottom row left to right: Jonny Scurrah, Ross Hook, George Slade, David Bullen, Harry Whitehead