Added bite gives Sharks Under-15 championship

A CRUSHING victory over the Sharks saw the Hurricanes clinch the PwC Under-15 Colts Indoor League. James Mullen's side only had to win after the Bears had thrown away the title the previous day.

Needing to beat the Panthers proved to be too difficult as the Bears' first innings total of 95 was passed with ease by their opponents.

The Bears were used to scoring much higher totals and it was thanks to great bowling spells from Jonathan Clark, with three wickets, and GYCDC bowler of the year Andrew Hutchinson that the total was reachable.

Only Alex Fisher bowled with any consistency for the Bears and the target was easily obtained.

The Hurricanes knew exactly what they needed to do - win the toss, score a good total and rely on their bowling attack to perform - and they did just that.

All of the batsmen chipped in with runs, including Mullen (28 not out), Thomas Kirk (19 not out) and Rory Van Leuven (12) as the Hurricanes made 104 despite the best bowling efforts of Max Ellis and Adam Hindle.

The Sharks got off to a good start but were soon restricted by Charlie Wilkes-Green who finished with the league's best match figures of four for 11 from four overs.

They ended up spluttering to 43 all out with only Hindle making double figures.

'When a team like the Sharks score 714 runs in six games and still finishes second, you start to appreciate the quality of the Hurricanes side and the league in general,' said development coach Jason Shambrook.

The PwC Under-12 Junior Indoor League was emphatically won by the Panthers as they destroyed their nearest rivals, the Bears, by 77 runs.

Isaac Damarell was once again in the runs with 30 not out while Matthew Renouf and Nick Robilliard both made scores in the twenties as their side made 131 for three.

That score was always going to be tough to beat and only Oliver Tapp (18) got going for the Bears as Renouf bowled tightly to secure the match.

In the other game, the Hurricanes reached their target of 117 with four balls to spare against the Sharks.

Adam Clark was the man-of-the-match, scoring 26 not out after taking three for six in the first innings. Chris Peatfield notched up 43 not out for the Sharks.

In the penultimate round of matches in the PwC Under-10 Development Indoor League, the Bears did their title aspirations no harm whatsoever as they thrashed the Panthers by 78 Runs. Jamie Salmon, Matthew Stokes and Gareth Davies all finished not out.

In the other match, the Sharks beat the Hurricanes by three wickets due largely to Alex Robins' 15 not out.