Under-18s enjoy Scotland trip

The Elite Player Development Under-18s emerged triumphant from their trip to Scotland.

The tourists won all three one-day matches they played, and capped their brief visit with another victory in a hastily-arranged Twenty20 encounter.

Somerset opener Jos Buttler starred in the opening 50-over clash at Clydesdale CC in Glasgow, hitting a splendid unbeaten 103 as the Under-18s beat Scotland Lions by four wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Lancashire batsman Luke Perry made 82 and Hampshire’s Michael Bates 51 in the 38-run victory over the same opposition the following day, with help from Middlesex spinner Ravi Patel’s 3-35.

A Scottish Development XI were humbled in the final 50-over contest, bowled out for a paltry 54 thanks to Gloucestershire seamer David Payne’s haul of 4-9 and 3-8 from Surrey’s Matthew Dunn.

The Under-18s needed just five overs to overhaul their target, which left the afternoon free for an unscheduled Twenty20 match.

They ended their trip north of the border in style, securing a 45-run victory after amassing 191 for eight on the back of James Vince’s 75 off 43 delieveries and Buttler’s brutal 28 off just nine balls.

Team manager John Abrahams said: “(Coach) Andy Pick and I feel that the week went very well and proved effective and worthwhile.

“The opposition on the first two days was testing and took players out of their comfort zone.

“It also provided an opportunity to see players in a ‘new team’ environment on an ‘away’ trip. The success means that we will try to organise similar matches in the future.”

Scorecard - Scotland Lions v EPD U18, One-day match, May 26 2009 (45 KB)
Scorecard - Scotland Lions v EPD U18, One-day match, May 27 2009 (45 KB)
Scorecard - Scotland Development XI v EPD U18, One-day match, May 29 2009 (44 KB)
Scorecard - Scotland Development XI v EPD U18, Twenty20, May 26 2009 (45 KB)