Young Coventry cricketers make winning trip to Lord's

A team of young cricketers from across the West Midlands have lived out their dream of playing at "the home of cricket" - and winning.

The competition is the showpiece of the MCC Foundation National Hubs Programme, which trains and supports more than 7,000 boys and girls from state schools to play cricket.

Coach Ben Chapman said: "It was a really adult and outstanding performance from the boys. They lost a couple of early wickets and could have panicked, but an outstanding achievement for a bunch of 13-year olds."

The MCC Foundation runs more than 220 hubs across the country, with one in Coventry and another at Edgbaston in Birmingham, serving Warwickshire.

They aim to offer free training and matches to state educated boys and girls up to 16, especially for those who would not normally have access to the sport.

In the 5 September final at Lord's, headquarters of the MCC, the Coventry side was put in to bat and scored 139-8 in their 20 overs.

James Williams, a member of Corley Cricket Club, captained the side and scored 23, while Muhammad Hashim top-scored with 44.

That left Sheffield chasing 140 to win, but they could only make 101-9, with Hashim taking 2-14 and Williams also picking up a wicket.

"It's a great feeling, like a dream. It's something I've dreamed of since a kid" the 13-year-old told BBC Total Sport.

Harry Jenkins, who plays for Bedworth Cricket Club, opened the innings for the Coventry side and said he was anxious facing the first ball of the match.

"[I was] very nervous, got seven and then got a perfect yorker, in-swinging on the bottom of the stumps and couldn't do anything about it" he said.

Chapman said he was incredibly proud of all the members of the team.

Click here to read article