Cambridgeshire Youth Cricketers get new season started after weather wreaked havoc

After the rain wreaked havoc with the opening few weeks of the new season, the 2024 campaign is now in full swing for Cambridgeshire Young Cricketers (CYC).

Fourteen matches have been played against first class, national county and – for the younger age groups – intra-squad opposition.

All boys’ and girls’ age groups – except for the Under-18s – have been in action, with the older age teams commencing their respective seasons when their school exams are over.

Five batters have reached a half century so far, and plenty of bowlers have taken multiple wickets with one taking a five-for – including a hat-trick.

In total there are 11 county age groups this season, four girls’ squads (with two of those squads, the Under-13s and the Under-15s, running two teams) and seven boys’ squads.

Head of cricket operations, Russell Doel, said: “CYC draws its players from the best talent in Cambridgeshire and is committed to working to maximise the potential of each one of its players.

“However, it is vital to note that we couldn’t do what we do without the support of our sponsors. We are immensely lucky and proud to have Bidwells, 1762 RBC Brewin Dolphin, CKLG Accountants and Cheffins as our sponsors again this year and we extend our heartfelt thanks for their patronage.

“While they each support our entire programme of representative youth cricket, they have also been aligned with specific squads and it is wonderful to see our players wearing our extremely smart new coloured kit adorned with their logos.

“We also want to thank all of the groundskeepers at the cricket grounds we use. Without their help and their meticulous care of those grounds, we would not be able to deliver our cricket programme to our talented young players.”

Among a batch of early-season standout CYC performances was the Under-15 Boys, who lost by three wickets in the final over of their game against Leicestershire.

Jack Carnegie and Benedict Prichard Jones both scored half centuries to help CYC to a score of 239.

Cambridgeshire then put Leicestershire under pressure with a series of wickets, but despite Liam Ticehurst recording figures of 2-51, the opposition got over the line with a ball to spare.

Elsewhere, the Under-13 Boys found themselves up against a strong Essex side.

Neel Kumar was the pick of the CYC bowlers with 2-19 off eight overs, but despite knocks of 22 from Ferdie Piper and 17 from Cillian Harrison, Essex’s bowling attack was too strong and Cambridgeshire were eventually bowled out for 73.

The Under-13 Girls were in good form though as they won both of their Twenty20 clashes against Suffolk at Exning Park.

In the first match Chloe Cazenove and Aadya Acharya both scored 25 runs apiece, with the latter retiring not out.

And in the second match Cambridgeshire opened the batting and reached 123-4 off 20 overs with both Elizabeth Brandon-Jones and Cazenove retiring not out on 22 and 21 respectively.

Suffolk were all out for 111 off 19.5 overs in reply with Molly Knight the pick of the bowlers courtesy of her three-wicket haul in two overs.