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Surrey claimed the Royal London Under-15s County Cup title with a 137-run win over Middlesex in the ‘A Division’ final at Kibworth Cricket Club, Leicestershire, today.
Surrey skipper Will Jacks continued his fine form with 66 at the top of the order, while Bilal Mohammed calmly added 64 late on to post a testing 238 for eight from 50 overs.
Middlesex’s reply never got going and they were rattled out for 101 from 33 overs with James Culff’s 3-5 from six overs the pick of the Surrey bowling.
Angus Dahl took 2-12 while Tyler Meyer returned 2-16 amongst some miserly figures as Middlesex’s hopes all but ended when semi-final hero Rahul Wijeratne was caught by wicketkeeper Sam Hall off Culff for eight.
Wijeratne had blazed an unbeaten 123 as Middlesex booked their place in the final with a five-wicket win over Derbyshire yesterday.
Derbyshire suffered a second defeat in two days when they lost the third-place play-off against Yorkshire by seven wickets.
Yorkshire skipper James Pick cracked 70 from 74 balls while Harry Brook anchored the successful pursuit of 207 for six with a patient 72 from 103 balls.
Half-centuries from Matthew Sonczak and George Dyson helped Derbyshire beyond 200, but Yorkshire coasted home with 4.4 overs remaining.
It was some comfort for Yorkshire, the Northern 'A Division' winners, after Surrey beat them by nine wickets in their semi-final.
Yorkshire were bowled out for just 79 in 37.4 overs as Culff ripped through the top order before Dahl claimed 4-12.
Surrey were able to complete the chase in the 45 minutes left before the lunch break with Jacks - fresh from guiding Guildford Cricket Club to success in the Under-15s National Club Championship final last week - confirming his talent with some impressive hitting including three sixes en-route to an unbeaten 48 from 35 balls.
Graham Shaw struck a rapid century as Durham retained their ECB 50+ County Championship title with a narrow six-run win over Essex, the team they also faced in the final 12 months ago, at Kibworth Cricket Club in Leicestershire.
Tony Birbeck and Keith Smith, with 49 and 41 respectively, ensured Essex’s decision to bowl backfired as they built a fine opening partnership until they both fell to Tim Smith to leave the score 110 for two in the 32nd over.
Number three Shaw started slowly but increased his scoring rate throughout his innings, hitting eight fours and three sixes in his stunning 67-ball century.
After Shaw departed for 104 to Chris Gladwin, Nick Thompson was stumped off the penultimate delivery for 34 as Durham amassed 251 for four from 45 overs.
Essex replicated Durham’s solid opening partnership, Gladwin and Kevin Grant adding 45 before the former was bowled by Dave McCabe for 24.
Despite the loss of two quick wickets, Grant and Neil Brathwaite joined forces to share a fourth-wicket stand of 77.
Chris Young wrestled control back in the direction of Durham by taking two wickets, including Grant for 82, but Essex were not done there.
With Brathwaite departing for 28, Ian Pont and Smith moved their side closer to their victory target with a 45-run alliance.
However, the run out of Pont left Smith with too much to do alongside the tail.
He was stumped from the final ball of the penultimate over, leaving seven required from the final set of six, but Shaw bowled Gary Nechio to confirm Durham’s victory.