There were two centuries in the week as Middlesex U14s travelled to Southend to take on Essex in a two-day game. With Essex declaring at tea on the opening day with 358 runs on the board, Middlesex found themselves under pressure early on. Despite a positive start, Middlesex fell to 72/3 in the 12th over, which brought Rishi Mehta to the crease. His knock of 105, which included 19 fours, brought his side back into the game as Middlesex declared on 311/6, trailing by 47, early on day two.
Essex batted positively in response, adding 245 runs in 40 overs before declaring their innings, setting Middlesex a target of 292, with just a session and a half remaining in the match. However, a century from Omar Shah, son of Middlesex legend Owais Shah, guided his team to a five-wicket victory late on the final day. His innings consisted of 91 balls, where he struck 9 fours and 10 sixes, finishing on 130.
On Thursday, Aarav Bhimani claimed five wickets in his Under 13 side’s 61-run victory over Cricket Wales at Merchant Taylors’ School. Bhimani couldn’t have asked for a better start as he claimed his first wicket in his opening over. In his fourth over he struck twice in two balls; however narrowly missed out on a hat-trick. His fourth wicket came with the last ball of his seventh over, before claiming his fifth victim in his final over as Cricket Wales were dismissed for 131. Bhimani finished with figures of 7.2-0-40-5
U11s player Agaman Singh took five wickets as his side defeated Gloucestershire on Sunday at Merchant Taylors’ School by 44 runs. Defending 236, it was the perfect start for Singh, striking with his fourth ball of the day. His second spell started positively too, this time striking with his fifth ball, as he bowled a wicket maiden. He completed his five-fer with a hat-trick in his sixth over to finish with figures of 8-1-34-5, as the visitors were dismissed for 192.
Middlesex's Under 14s capped a fine week with victory in their National County Cup semi-final yesterday, when they overcame Sussex to book a place in the national final, being played on 27th August at Attenborough Cricket Club in Nottingham. Batting first, Sussex were bowled out for 142 in 35 overs, with the wickets shared around the Middlesex attack, before Omar Shah was again in the spotlight with a top-scoring rapid knock of 57 off 25 balls, as Middlesex chased the target down in the 22nd over of the reply.
Middlesex's reward is a place in the national final against Lancashire a week on Wednesday.
Pictured, left to right,: Shah, Mehta, Bhimani, and Singh
