Captain Ivo Leyland won the toss and chose to bowl on what looked a good wicket to bat on. This proved an inspired choice as the opening bowlers Callum Foot (0-15) and Asher Osborn (2-30) kept the dangerous opening pair in check. Asher accounted for two of the top 3, a smart catch at point by Jacob Rowe for the first then his second bowling the batter all ends up with the middle stump cartwheeling out of the ground.

Then Ivo Leyland (2-17) and Rowe (1-23) kept up the pressure with Ivo’s pace and accuracy being too good for the opposition taking two wickets by bowling the batters and Jake’s left arm orthodox trapping a batter lbw. Ollie Wright (1-15) and Jacob Nash (1-12) bowled 2 overs a piece and the opposition (apart from the captain) never got going. The team fielded excellently with smart catches by Alfie Yeo and Patrick Hawley (behind the stumps), a run out from Ivo’s bullet throw plus Ometh Ranasinghe fielding in the deep ensuring runs were kept to singles with his accurate throwing in from the boundary. Cardiff could only muster 114 from their 20 overs and the lads were confident of chasing these down.

The chase did in fact prove a simple one. Callum and Patrick set about their business with little fuss until the former unfortunately chopped on for 12 but the foundations were laid. Freddie Jones came in with a quick fire 14 and was bowled with the score at 43-2 but that was as good as it got for Cardiff. Patrick made light work of the bowling attack serenely placing the ball around the pitch for his 50 retired not out (10x4’s) he was supported by Ivo 24 not out (rotating the strike well). It was left to Jacob Rowe to smash the final runs for the lads to reach 118-2 from 14 overs a comprehensive and resounding victory.

The next stage for the U15 squad is the regional semi finals on 3rd August where will play either Exmouth CC or Portsmouth CC, with the other semi final being played as well, winners of both semi then complete in the regional final.