Daily reports and scores from a tour of Durham by Ireland U-15s Boys who are competing at the Barnard Castle Festival.
JULY 22 – Ireland U-15s Boys vs Cleveland Schools Cricket Association
- Captain Peter le Roux won the toss and elected to bat first in their first game of the tour.
- They posted 302-7 (50 overs) with Gethin Kelleher scoring 101 (109) but was dismissed soon after reaching his hundred due to a non striker’s end run out from a deflection.
- Peter le Roux also contributed with 74 (93).
- Cleveland Schools Cricket Association soon found themselves 39-5, 50-6, then eventually 93-9 in their chase of 303.
- Wickets were shared around for Ireland U-15s Boys but Bobby Brolly 2-8 (5) and Zayyan Malik 2-14 (5) were the pick of the bowlers.
Won by 208 runs.
Scorecard here.
JULY 23 – Ireland U-15s Boys vs Wales U-15s Boys
- Wales U-15s Boys won the toss and elected to bat first – posting 277-7 from their 50 overs.
- Wickets were share among the Ireland bowlers but notable contributions came from Gethin Kelleher with 2-25 (6) and Mark Robinson 2-42 (8)
- Ireland needed to start well in the chase and did so posting 170 for the first wicket between Callum Armstrong and Robbie McCollam.
- The total was then reached at 42.3 overs with Armstrong 90 not out accompanied by Gethin Kelleher 44 not out off 27 deliveries.
Won by 8 wickets.
Scorecard here.
JULY 24 – Ireland U-15s Boys vs Western Rhinos Invicta U-15s Boys
- Ireland won the toss and elected to field – bowling out Western Rhinos for 161 in 41.3 overs.
- Key contributors with the ball included Bobby Brolly with 4-30 (9.3) and 2-22 (8) from Toby Slye-O’Connell.
- Ireland then chased this down in 37.3 overs for the loss of seven wickets.
- Key batting performances came from Marko Bates with 42 (55), Robbie Collam 34 (62) and Sidharth Biju with 30 (33).
Won by 3 wickets.
Scorecard here.
JULY 25 – Ireland U-15s Boys vs Netherlands U-15s Boys
- Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first – posting 268-9 from their 50 overs.
- Key contributors with the bat were Gethin Kelleher 97 (100) who unfortunately couldn’t add to his century earlier in the week, and Marko Bates with 42 (49).
- Ireland’s bowlers then got off to the perfect start with Mark Robinson and Ben Walsh making early inroads.
- At 58-4, 89-5 and then eventually 99-7, Ireland successfully maintained pressure with the ball, not allowing Netherlands into the chase.
- The key bowler was Bobby Brolly who took 3-38 from 8.3 overs as Ireland closed in on the win.
- Next up the final…
Won by 149 runs.
Scorecard here.
JULY 26 (Final) – Ireland U-15s Boys vs Scotland U-15s Boys
- First up in the final, Ireland won the toss and elected to bat and put up a total first up.
- Gethin Kelleher again contributed significantly, making 54 off 59 balls in Ireland’s total of 218 all out in 49.1 overs.
- Lorcan Craik 32 (39) and Toby Slye O’Connell 32 (27) also played some important hands in setting the total.
- With the ball, Ireland then got off to the perfect start with earlier wickets. First 1-1, then 23-2 and 34-3 to put the chasing side under pressure.
- Scotland’s middle order attempted to rebuild but couldn’t make it stick after several starts.
- All the while, Ireland’s bowlers kept up the pressure they’d brought from the start.
- Ben Walsh again starred with the ball taking 3-21 off 8 overs with Gethin Kelleher taking 1-18 (5) to go with his half-century.
- At 96-6, 96-7, then 112-8 Scotland were truly up against it as victory beckoned for Ireland in the final after very strong performances throughout the week.
Scorecard here.
Won by 100 runs.
