Ravenscroft shines as U-10s win festival

THE Channel Islands have tasted more success in a major cricket festival in the UK. Three wins out of three saw the CI win the Taunton Under-10 Festival against county sides with much larger catchment areas, to follow the example set by the under-13s at the Canford festival earlier this season.

The islanders could not have got off to a better start at the three-day tournament as they cruised to a 10-wicket win over Devon.

The opposition were bowled out for 130 with Max Ellis claiming three wickets, Charlie Wilkes-Green and Tim Ravenscroft two apiece and there was one for Adam Hindle.

The reply was emphatic with Ravenscroft (76 not out) and Andrew Dawson-Ball (34 not out) putting on 134 to guide their side to victory in under 18 overs.

Victory over Kent the following day, however, was not so comfortable.

The CI had a tough time with the bat early on with the top score from the first six batsmen being 11.

But Wilkes-Green (26) and Hindle (16) put on a vital seventh wicket stand to help push the side to a respectable and ultimately defendable total of 124.

Ravenscroft and Ellis did most of the damage in the Kent reply, taking three and four wickets respectively, while Wilkes-Green and Hindle claimed one apiece as the CI won by 12 runs.

The final day saw the islanders back in more dominant form with a convincing eight-wicket win over Shropshire.

Wilkes-Green bowled very well once again taking three wickets while Ravenscroft's off-spin claimed two as the opposition were restricted to just 98.

Adam Clark (30 not out) and Ravenscroft (11 not out) saw the side home after Dawson-Ball was out first ball of the innings. Dan McAviney made the useful contribution of 20.

The CI under-14s did not fare as well in their festival at Taunton but improved as the week went on.

They were unfortunate to meet Cornwall, the strongest side in the competition, on the opening day and that resulted in an eight-wicket defeat.

In the CI's 186, Brett Pitman made a patient 36 while Scott Gautier finished unbeaten on 32 and other batsmen made started but could not capitalise.

Both Cornwall openers made half-centuries in reply to lay the foundations of a comfortable win. Tom Wherry was the only wicket-taker.

The following day saw the islanders slip to a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Dorset after being bowled out for just 69.

Wherry's 27 was easily the top score as the CI struggled on a tough pitch before their opponents knocked off the runs in just 10 overs.

The CI came agonisingly close to claiming their first win in their third game but lost out by a single wicket to Sussex in a thrilling and tense encounter.

Pitman was again top scorer with 38 while Daniel Lundy (30) and David Banks (32) were the other main contributors in the CI's total of 176 for nine.

The team then produced what coach Jeremy Frith described as 'the best fielding performance I've seen from a CI side' but it was just not enough to stop Sussex reaching 178 for nine. Jonathan Wilkes-Green bowled superbly for his four for 23.