North Middlesex win Under 13 Championship
Date released: 8 August 2008
Winners: North Middlesex Under-13s North Middlesex held off competition from seven other teams to win the MCC Spirit of Cricket Under 13 National Club Championship at Oakham School.
At the end of the four-day finals, which was affected by rain, both North Middlesex and Yateley of Hampshire stood unbeaten.
North Middlesex’s superior run rate (they scored 618 runs in their five matches) ensured they ended up as winners.
Zulfiqar Azom collects the Ken Barrington Cup Their captain Zulfiqar Azom proudly received the Ken Barrington Cup from Ann Barrington, widow of the former England player and manager.
A record 1,800 teams entered the competition and going into the final round of matches, three teams - North Middlesex, Yateley and Leamington – still had a chance of winning it.
North Middlesex scored 123-6 against Sheringham with three batsmen – Connor Nurse, Azom and William Armstrong-Fox – retiring after posting thirties. They then restricted the Norfolk side to 84-8.
Knowing run rate was against them, Yateley won comfortably against Leamington scoring 104-2 off 17.4 overs but it wasn’t quite enough.
Spirit of Cricket
Despite the sometime inclement weather the finals were a great success with hard, fair and competitive cricket on show from all the teams.
Sheringham won the Spirit of Cricket award – adjudicated by the eight umpires – for exhibiting excellent sportsmanship throughout their five matches.
Stephenson:'Game has been played in the right spirit' Former Essex, Hampshire and England all-rounder, now MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson said: “Congratulations to North Middlesex for winning the MCC Spirit of Cricket Under 13 National Club Championship.
"They have played good, positive cricket all week and their win is well deserved. They clearly have some very talented boys how have played as a unit from being very young.
“All week the game has been played in the right spirit by all competitors.
"To make it this far in the competition is a fantastic achievement and the talent that has been on display is really encouraging for the future.”
