Thurrock cricketer's delight as she plays Marylebone at Lord's

A teenage cricketer said being hand-picked to play at Lord's left her wanting to "jump up and down" in joy.

Afra Rose Mohamed, 17, captained a side of talented state school players as they took on a strong Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) women's team in London.

The sixth-former from Thurrock, Essex, struck four consecutive boundaries and scored 24 runs, but it was the MCC team who emerged as the winners by 45 runs.

Afra, who was cheered on by her family and friends at the T20 match, said: "It really made me feel like I was playing professional cricket."

It was her dad, Baiju, who received the email from an old Essex coach inviting her to play on the hallowed turf.

"He just showed it to me and I was so excited, I was about to jump up and down," said Afra, who has already been snapped up by the Essex Talent Pathway.

"That week probably felt like the longest week of my life trying to wait to play at Lord's."

Afra described to Victoria Polley on BBC Essex's Around the Wicket show how she "felt the excitement going through my blood" when she was named captain.

The side was made up of children from across the country, all of whom attend state schools.

Recalling meeting her new teammates, she said: "Everyone was just as excited as everyone.

"All the girls are so nice, so lovely, the kindest people ever. We were just going through the same feelings together."

Although her team lost the contest, Afra said she was "really happy" with her performance and was left glowing about the day.

Her parents, Shafeena and Baiju, were left bowled over by their daughter as they watched on from the famous members' pavilion at Lord's.

Shafeena said: "Naturally, we are very proud of Afra. This was a truly special and surreal experience for her, and for us to be there to witness it.

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