Durham Under-12 and Under-13 Representative Squads have enjoyed a good start to their 2019 campaign with positive signs coming out of the games the boys have played.
The Under-12s started their season with two wins out of two over Cleveland and Cumbria, while the Under-13s played two fixtures against Cumbria winning one and losing one.
Assistant Coach Cole Pearce has been impressed with the energy shown on the field this season. He said: “The Under-12s have started really well, we have had two good games which were comfortable wins, it was good to see what the boys can do.
“Both batters and bowlers have performed exceptionally in their departments, so it is important to know they are focusing on their game.
“From what I have seen so far, the energy on the field has been excellent, it can be different and a challenge for the boys to move up from under-11s cricket to under-12s because they are playing a longer format meaning they need to be switched on as they are out on the field for a longer period of time.
“We just want the boys to enjoy themselves when playing, and if they do that then hopefully the batters will score big runs and bowlers will take lots of wickets. From the games we have played so far that has been very much the case.”
It was a tight contest against Cleveland for the Under-12s, with Durham claiming the victory on the last ball of the game to win by 3 wickets. Durham won the toss and asked the visitors to bat scoring 171/7 from 35 overs, Freddie White picking up 2-33. Callum Gaffney and James Young both scored half centuries, but George Fishwick scored a 52-ball 30, scoring the winning runs as Durham edged home on the final ball of the game.
Against Cumbria, Durham U12s took the fixture by five wickets in a low scoring contest. Durham impressed with the ball to bowl Cumbria out for 42 as Jacob Johnson picked up 3-9, while Brett Hutchinson, Matthew Robinson and Matthew May all struck twice. James Young top scored with 12 as Durham chased down 42 in 11.2 overs, with Charlie Mole and Matthew Robinson finishing unbeaten to enable Durham to get over the line, five wickets down.
The Under-13s have won one and lost one against Cumbria, with the side coming out on top in their home fixture at Barnard Castle School. Batting first Cumbria posted 159/7 from 40 overs, having been inserted to bat by Durham, as Seth Winter scored an unbeaten 87 from 78 balls. Patrick Nicholson was the pick of the bowlers for Durham with 2-16 while Kenzie Peakman struck with figures of 2-23. In reply Durham took 29.2 overs to chase down the target set by Cumbria as Henry Hopkins finished 64 not out from 76 balls supported by 49 not out from Sam Goodwin.
In their fixture against Northumberland, Durham U13s were victorious by 127 runs as Joseph Davies (95) and Sam Goodwin (79) shared an opening stand of 157 to put Durham in control at Gateshead Fell. Charlie Coulthard added 23 as Durham posted 247/4 from 40 overs. Charlie Scorer then shone with the ball claiming figures of 5-28, before bowling Northumberland out for 120 in 33.2 overs to win by 127 runs.
Durham Under-13s are next in action on Tuesday, 25 June against East Yorkshire while the Under-12s travel to Barton Cricket Club to take on Yorkshire on Thursday, 27 June.