Western Cricket Academy Tour-August 2011

 The Western Cricket Academy's mini-tour to the north-east of England started today (17 August) with two T20s against triangular tournament opponents Uslter Schools and Northern Universities Student Club-Community Cricketers Elite ("NUSC-CC"). 

The first game pitted the Academy with tournament hosts NUSC-CC who, batting first, posted 159 for 5.

In reply the academy finished 12 runs short despite 56 from 43 balls from Poloc CC's Craig Young, Ayr CC's Calum McLaughlin's 39 from 29 balls.  The two had added 64 in 47 balls for the third wicket, but to no avail.  The game was likely lost in the first innings as 26 in extras cost the Academy dear, as did some poor ground fielding.

The second game against Ulster Schools was another close affair.  This time the academy were set 123 to win, but this time came up short by just 2 runs.  A better first half had seen improved fielding and bowling, though room was still left for improvement in both disciplines.

Michael English (Ferguslie CC) took four wickets as Ulster Schools lost nine wickets en route to posting 122 for 9.  However, and unlike in the first game, the academy batters struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking over.  Too often big shots were lined up instead of looking to rotate the strike when the target was just a run-a-ball as opposed to the much larger run-rate needed to win game one. 

Partnerships of any note just didn't materialise; McLaughlin's and Young's 24 for the third wicket again being the largest, though it only amounted to 24.  With wickets falling at regular intervals, too often through poor shot selection, the run-chase never really got going.  
 

An in-depth report can be found on the Western Junior Cricket website HERE