Ravenscroft hits two more tons

TIM RAVENSCROFT set the Taunton Under-12s Festival alight with two centuries for Hampshire. The 12-year-old Sarnian had scored his first hundred for his county side earlier this summer and yet his performances in Somerset were incredible, especially considering that his grandfather Aiden had passed away just two days before the event began.

But the youngster showed great character to notch up 110 in Hampshire's opening fixture against Devon and he also claimed a wicket in an economical spell of off-spin as his side had the better of the drawn match.

The following day in the defeat to Kent, he was unfortunate to be run out for 21 and then against Somerset he rattled up 33 from just 14 balls before he played on. He would later claim two more wickets as Hampshire beat the host county by 29 runs.

But it was his innings against Lancashire that was the highlight of his week.

In a match reduced by rain, Ravenscroft struck 121 before being run out with two balls of Hampshire's 28 overs remaining and he added another wicket to his tally later on as the Lancastrians were beaten by 73 runs.

Worcestershire defeated Hampshire on the final day of the festivals but Ravenscroft performed once again, scoring 23 and claiming two for 19 from his 10 overs.

'I tried to play each ball on its merits, but when it's up there I just try to give it a whack,' said Ravenscroft on his approach to batting.

The Hampshire under-12 manager Colin Justice said yesterday that the Guernsey boy's efforts at the festival were 'terrific'.

'It is fair to say that all the teams we played after he scored a hundred in the first game against Devon were looking out for him.

He was the batsman of the festival,' Justice said.