History is made by under-13s

THE Channel Islands Under-13 team has created cricketing history. With wins against Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and a winning draw against Dorset, the squad has become the first Channel Islands representative side to win a major festival in the UK - the Under-13 Canford Festival.

CI team manager Jason Shambrook said: 'After a tough opening game against Oxfordshire, the side just improved with every game.

'It was particularly pleasing to beat our county-linked side, Wiltshire, by nine wickets.'

The tournament was held at the stunning Canford School at Wimborne, Dorset over three days.

The CI opened with a tense four-run win over Oxfordshire.

Richard Angliss opened the batting and hit 17. Chris Whitworth added 18 coming in at four.

The CI total was boosted by an unbeaten 23 from James Mullen in the lower order and 132 all out was not a bad score on a difficult pitch.

Mullen then had the Oxfordshire opener caught and later added two lbws as the chasing side faltered.

But it was Peatfield who held his nerve as the Oxford number 11 danced down the pitch in search of the winning runs, the resultant stumping giving the CI an important first-match win.

They followed it with the better of a draw against Dorset.

Angliss hit a superb 52 as the CI rattled up 225 for six in their 45 overs.

Peatfield grabbed a couple of wickets and Angliss collected a scalp as Dorset struggled to 159 for 6 in their allotted 45 overs - the match a draw despite the CI's opponents ending 97 runs short.

And the islanders ended with a great victory against Wiltshire to win the trophy.

Mullen added two more scalps to his haul - including that of Rory Moriarty, who, with opener Jonathan Clark, as representing the English county despite both being Guernsey players.

After Angliss had been trapped leg-before, Mullen then joined Jerseyman Charlie Johnson in knocking off the runs required for the loss of no more wickets. Mullen ended unbeaten on 33.

'The islands' representative teams have won 90 per cent of their fixtures against sides from the UK,' said Shambrook.

'What a tremendous achievement by the players and it just highlights the excellent work that the coaching staff on the island are doing.

'We will continue to improve and there are exciting times ahead.'

Further festivals see the CI Under-11 team in action at Taunton and the CI Under-17 side in the county festival in Jersey.

The Guernsey Under-13 squad also travels to Jersey for the Under-13 Challenge.