The Men’s Performance Academy squad did the double over the Scotland under-19s last week after two entertaining matches which showed that there is a lot of talent coming through north of the border.
In the first game between the two squads at Uddingston CC on Tuesday, July 2 Angus Guy of Clydesdale hit a battling 60 for the under-19s as they posted 171 all out batting first.
Adil Ghaffar and opening bowling partner Hamza Tahir took 3-35 and 2-16 respectively to lead the way for the Performance Academy.
Jack Hogarth of ion8 Forfarshire then chipped in with 3-30.
In the reply, Mazars Grange’s Charlie Peet caused issues and took 3-20 opening the bowling, but the Performance Academy managed the chase well and won by five wickets in the end.
The following day the teams were back at Uddingston and the under-19s were again batting first in the 50-overs-a-side meetings.
Liam Naylor top scored with 40 from number six in the batting order while Grange duo Jamie Cairns and Peet helped their team up over the 200 mark with 29 and 25 respectively down the order.
Chris McBride (Sacriston) and Fin McCreath (Benwell Hill) took three wickets apiece as the youngsters posted 222 all out.
McBride (57) and Forfarshire’s Callum Garden (54) batted well for the Performance Academy as they came out on top by seven wickets.
Last Tuesday saw men’s and women’s regional under-16 series matches taking place.
In the men’s event at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh the Eastern Knights took on the Western Warriors.
Carlton’s Cameron Keating scored 38 from 40 balls batting at number eight to help the Knights post 214-8 up first.
Six Warriors bowlers took wickets, but they were frustrated to give away 29 extras.
In reply the Warriors could not get going as they would have liked in the face of some good Knights bowling, slipping to 93-5 and then 115 all out.
Clydesdale’s Bahadar Esakhiel top scored with 29 while Achyut Aniruddhan took the superb figures of 4-10 and Freddie Huddleston took 2-10 including six maidens.
In the women’s tournament, the Caledonian Highlanders took on the Eastern Knights at Huntly.
The visitors made 84 all out batting first before the Highlanders reached their victory target – eventually 72 via DLS – by eight wickets.
On Monday, the Scotland under-15 men’s team got their summer fixtures underway against Northumberland at Ayr.
The visitors made 228-8 batting first with the wickets being shared around by the Scots.
Scotland’s reply got off to a flying start, but they were pegged back somewhat and, in the end, needed 29 off the last three overs which proved just too much as they lost by four runs after a cracking game.
This week’s pathways cricket:
Tuesday, July 9: Men’s Scotland under-19 v Regional Select at Uddingston, 11am start.
Wednesday, July 10: Men’s Scotland under-15 v Durham at Myreside, 11am start.
Wednesday, July 10: Men’s Scotland under-19 v Eastern Knights Development at Uddingston, 11am start.
Thursday, July 11: Men’s Regional under-16 Series, Caledonian Highlanders v Western Warriors at Largo, 11am start.
Sunday, July 14: Men’s Regional under-14 Series, T20 day involving all the teams at Perth Doo’cot, 10am start.
Sunday, July 14: Men’s Regional Development Series, Eastern Knights v Western Warriors at RH Corstorphine, 11am start.
Monday, July 15: Men’s Regional Development Series, Eastern Knights v Caledonian Highlanders at Edinburgh Accies, 11am start.
Monday, July 15: Women’s Scotland under-17 v Durham under-17 at Gala, 12noon.
