YOUNG cricketers from Solihull School have knocked their opponents for six after being crowned national champions.
The school’s under-13s beat New Hall School, from Chelmsford, Essex, by 22 runs in the final of the prestigious English Schools Cricket Association Cup, which was held at Oakham School, Rutland.
Captain and cricket scholar Dan Bevan produced a man-of-the-match performance to score an unbeaten 76, while Alfie Blundell hit 30 not out from just 21 balls, as Solihull reached 190-3 from their allotted 35 overs.
They then bowled New Hall out for 168 to be crowned national champions.
The school’s under-15s side also showed their quality to reach the national cup final before being edged out by a strong side from King’s College, Taunton. Batting first, Solihull were restricted to 117 all out, Ethan Brookes top-scoring with 40. However, King’s reached their target for the loss of three wickets despite a spirited bowling effort.
Solihull School master of cricket Darren Maddy said: “The boys performed extremely well to reach two finals, with the under-13s producing a fine display to claim the national title. We were up against some strong sides throughout our cup campaigns and the under-13s, led by Dan Bevan, richly deserved to be crowned champions.”
Maddy, a former England international batsman who spent his playing career with Leicestershire and Warwickshire, leads the school’s cricket academy, which boasts a number of talented young players.
Among them is under-13 skipper Bevan, an opening batsman and wicketkeeper who has been part of the Warwickshire CCC junior set-up for the past three years. Bevan hit his first century in the National Cup semi-final against Nottingham High School before leading his school side to victory in the final with another impressive innings.
Another Solihull pupil who has been part of Warwickshire junior squads for the past three years is fast bowler and hard-hitting middle-order batsman Alfie Blundell, while Ethan Plain, an opening batsman and leg-spin bowler has earned county recognition for the past two years.
Maddy said: “We have some very talented cricketers at Solihull School. We pride ourselves on giving pupils the very best coaching and development opportunities available and this is where our cricket scholarships are a real benefit to talented young players.”
To find out more information about cricket scholarships at Solihull School, call 0121 705 0958 or e-mail [email protected].
