Gary Heatly rounds-up the latest pathways action…
We have heard for a few months now that there are some great young female players coming through in Scotland – and they stepped up to the mark last week.
The Scotland under-17s won three matches out of four down in Yorkshire with everyone playing their part.
The girls lost their first game, a 50-overs-a-side clash with the Yorkshire under-18 girls at Scarborough College last Tuesday, but bounced back.
Last Wednesday at the same venue they bowled the same opponents out for 99 in the first of two T20s at the same venue.
Stewart’s Melville CC’s Katherine Fraser top scored with 28 in reply as they posted 103-4 to win by six wickets.
Later in the day they had another run chase on their hands, but they handled it with aplomb again, Stoneywood Dyce CC’s Ailsa Lister making 50 not out to haul her side up to 106 and a second six wicket win, this time with nearly three overs to spare.
And then last Thursday they rounded things off with a three wicket win in a 100-balls-a-side match, reaching 105 to triumph and bring to an end a successful trip.
Meanwhile, Forthill in Broughty Ferry was the place for runs last Tuesday, July 20.
The Caledonian Highlanders under-17 boys were hosting their Western Warriors counterparts in a two day game – and on day one the home batters were on form and enjoying the longer format of the game.
Meigle’ CCs Josh Edington scored 160, Dunfermline & Carnegie CC’s Dan Pearson 128 and Arbroath CC’s Pranav Saravanan 146 as they made 505-6, with the Warriors then finishing on 41-2 at the close.
On day two, the Warriors were bowled out for 300, Ibrahim Faisal scoring 100, meaning that the Highlanders won after scoring a bigger first innings total.
Over the same two days, the Cricket Scotland Performance Academy drew with the Yorkshire Academy at Goldenacre in Edinburgh.
On day one, Stirling County CC’s Brandon McMullen took four wickets as the visitors made 242-9 declared.
Day two belonged to Clydesdale CC’s Angus Guy, the opener making 101 and then Heriot’s CC’s Durness Mackay-Champion making a quickfire 49 as the home side made 320 all out.
On Thursday, in the first of two T20 games between the sides at the same ground, Ferguslie CC’s Taimoor Ahmad scored 57 not out and Forfarshire CC’s Rory Johnston 46 not out to guide the Performance Academy to an eight wicket win.
In the second game, Liam Naylor made 60 and Jasper Davidson 42 as the Performance Academy made 165-7 up first.
Poloc CC’s Kess Sajjad then took three scalps as Yorkshire were all out for 129, the Performance Academy getting home by 36 runs.
Last Thursday, Scotland under-15 boys took on their Yorkshire counterparts at Nunholm in Dumfries.
Ferguslie CC’s Uzair Ahmad and Clydesdale CC’s Bahadar Esakhiel shared a brilliant century stand and went on to make 88 and 72 respectively as the young Scots made 245-8 from their 50 overs up first.
The Scottish bowlers put up a good fight in the Yorkshire reply and took six wickets, but the visitors got over the line after a cracking contest.
Also last week, Scotland under-18 drew a two match series away from home with Cumbria 1-1.
The Scotland under-17 girls are pictured by Catherine Sturgess while Josh Edington, one of the Highlanders under-17 boys who scored a century last week, is also pictured
