Under-15s triumph at Bunbury festival

England Under-15s came from a game down to beat an England Player Devlopment Under-16 XI 2-1 in the three-match series.

The EPD U16s took the first game in comfortable style, thanks largely to an unbeaten century from William Vanderspar.

Vanderspar smashed 147, including 15 fours and four sixes, in the EPD’s total of 305 for three from 50 overs, Ben Raine weighing in with a useful 74.

The U15s responded well and reached 142 for one thanks to Sam Kelsall (60) and Ramanpreet Singh (79), but Chris Piesely’s 4-44 from 10 overs eventually restricted them to 252 for eight.

England Under-15s ran out 2-1 victors after coming from a game down to beat an EPD Under-16 XI

EPD U16s posted another imposing target in the second game, Raine hitting 89 and Ateeq Javed bludgeoning 45 from 29 balls in their 303 for seven.

Only Muhammad Abid, with 2-41 from 10 overs, kept the score down.

U15 opener Kelsall struck 85 as the youngsters made a good start to their run chase but when he was caught and bowled by Javed the game was in the balance at 181 for three.

Andrew Salter’s brutal 44 from 34 balls kept the U15s in the hunt and the nerves got to the EPD U16s, who bowled 18 wides, allowing their younger counterparts to sneak home for a four-wicket win with three balls remaining.

In the decider the U15s won the toss and elected to bat but Tom Darby’s 2-19 restricted them to 245 for six after openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Kelsall both made half-centuries.

Javed and Darby both made 61 in reply but Kelsall (2-44) and Daly (3-50) helped bowl the U16s out for 230, 17 runs short of victory with 23 balls remaining.

Scorecard - England U15 v EPD U16 XI, Aug 6 2008 (73 KB)
Scorecard - England U15 v EPD U16 XI, Aug 7 2008 (74 KB)
Scorecard - England U15 v EPD U16 XI, Aug 8 2008 (71 KB)