Swindells shines for Midlands

Harry Swindells made a key contribution as Midlands started their Under-17s Super Fours defence with a thrilling win against the South and West at Loughborough yesterday.

Leicestershire’s local Academy prospect made a crucial unbeaten 39 as Midlands, who slipped to 32-4 in pursuit of 168, won a great game by two wickets.

Ben Claydon of Northants top-scored with 60, the key partnership being 76 for the seventh wicket with Leicestershire 'keeper/batsman Swindells.

The damage in the Midlands innings had been inflicted by Joe Gore, a Somerset seamer who ended with five for 41.

Warwickshire’s Henry Brookes had put the South and West team on the back foot with three early wickets, and he received good support from spinners Josh Haynes of Worcestershire (two for 29) and Anis Raza of Nottinghamshire (two for 20).

Somerset’s Tom Bainton made a battling 56 and his county team-mate Louie Shaw chipped in with 32, but the South and West will aim to bounce back against London and East on Wednesday.

Roses rivals Harry Brook, George Lavelle and Sam Oldham teamed up to good effect as the North made an impressive start.

Brook, an opener from Ilkley who made his first-class debut for Yorkshire against Pakistan A earlier this season, made 88 from 68 balls to set up an imposing total of 303 against London and East.

He received good support from Lavelle, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Ormskirk who was named player of the tournament at the Bunbury Festival for Under-15s last summer. He made 63, and there were other handy contributions from Durham’s Liam Trevaskis (36), and Elliot Young from Cheshire (45).

Then Oldham, a seamer from Leyland who has played regular second team cricket for Lancashire, took four for 48 as the southern team were dismissed for 236 in reply, with Young completing a good all-round performance by taking three for 34 with his left-arm spin.

Surrey’s Will Jacks top-scored for London and East with 65, while his county team-mate Euan Woods made 33 after taking two for 19 with his off-spin.

There were also useful contributions with the bat from Feroze Khushi of Essex (45), and with the ball from the Middlesex pair of Ethan Bamber (three for 42) and Rahul Wijeratne (three for 23).