Academy Coach Alistair Maiden has been keeping us updated on their progress and sent us this latest bulletin.
“On Saturday we practiced for the day at the ICC ground which was excellent facilities. The boys practiced on bowling machines indoors and had fielding practice before having nets on concrete pitches which are brilliant for young people to practice their cricket on.
“On Monday we played a practice match on a concrete pitch in a beautiful park before we play the final of the tournament on Tuesday at the Emirates 7’s grounds. We travel home early on Wednesday morning.”
Durham 104 for 7 (J Thomson 26)
Desert Cubs 105 for 9 (J Hardy 5 overs 4 for 9, J Hewitson 4 overs 3 for 21)
UTC 169 all out (A Hickey 5 overs 4 for 18, J Hewitson 5 overs 2 for 24, S Brar 5 overs 2 for 23)
Durham 170 for 7 (R Carr 36, J Burnham 29, R Cummings 23, S Tindale 21.
Durham win by 3 wickets.
Al-Ain Sportsflex 108 all out. (J Hardy 5 0vers 3 for 21, S Brar 5 overs 2 for 10.)
Durham 113 for 4 (S Brar 38, R Carr 25 not out)
Durham win by 6 wickets.
Durham 179 for 6 (S Tindale 77 not out, J McBeth 38, A Hickey 19 not out.
YTCA 95 for 7 (S Brar 5 overs 2 for 14, C McCabe 3 overs 2 for 9, A Hickey 5 overs 2 for 19.)
The Academy all gathered at the Newcastle Airport on Friday 31 December to set off on an eleven day trip to Dubai to take part in the 25 over Gulf Cup. Emirates staff assisted with us checking in and made life so easy for us in Newcastle Airport.
The flight was excellent and we celebrated the New Year high above Iraq! When we arrived at Dubai we were met by Emirates staff again who helped us through the security checks and baggage collection so that we were all present and correct on the bus which was provided by the Ramada continental.
The hotel has been brilliant both in facilities and hospitality. The lads have enjoyed the food and the pool and gym facilities particularly and the staff have been incredibly helpful. The hotel has also provided the bus and the driver to get us to and from games and venues around the area.
The boys have settled in well and we had our first practice session on Saturday before playing our first game at the Emirates 7’s ground (which is where the international rugby 7’s takes place) today (Sunday) against Desert cubs. Having lost the toss we were made to field in hot conditions and did extremely well to restrict the opposition to 72 with some excellent fielding and particularly tight bowling from Jack Hardy, Adam Hickey, Jack McBeth, Callan McCabe and Steven Male who all chipped in with wickets.
We made difficult work of the chase having got off to a very good start. A flurry of wickets meant that we got the runs for 6 wickets with 5 overs to spare. James Thompson top scored with 20 and it was a good win for our first game.