Hampshire U15 Girls Crowned National Champions

They overcame the odds to beat Yorkshire in a thrilling final to finish the County Championship season unbeaten.

Hampshire U15 Girls were crowned Champions of the ECB U15s County Championship last week after a narrow victory over Yorkshire in the National Finals at Uppingham Cricket Club.

After winning their initial group, they qualified for the semi-finals where they faced Staffordshire, and booked their place in the final with a resounding seven-wicket win.

They were restricted to 141-9 from their 40 overs, but a superb bowling performance from Hampshire saw Yorkshire fall just seven runs short, sealing a memorable win for the U15s.

They began their County Championship season in Group 4 alongside Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wales and Devon, with their side securing three victories in as many games.

They were frustrated by the weather in both of their matches against Devon, whilst their clash at home to Somerset was also abandoned due to heavy rain.

Despite this, they finished the group stages undefeated, picking up wins over Gloucestershire and Wales, finishing on 23 points, ten ahead of second-placed Devon with a healthy run-rate of 2.95.

This highlighted the team performances that the young side have put in over the course of the campaign, supported by the coaching an expertise of both Sam Bracey and Emily Windsor off the pitch.

secured qualification to the National Finals alongside Yorkshire, Essex and Staffordshire, who also won their respective groups.

Hampshire were drawn against Staffordshire in the second semi-final after Yorkshire beat Essex in the opening game of the day.

Gemma Porter (4-12) starred with the ball for Hampshire, as they dismissed their opponents for just 127 after 38 overs.

Lucia Kendall (67*) notched an unbeaten half-century as her side stormed to a seven-wicket win in the 32nd over of the contest to set up a final against a strong Yorkshire outfit.

Despite being reduced to 30-4 in the final, Amelia Marshall (62) showed composure as wickets fell around her, hitting a crucial fifty to move her side up to 141-9 off their 40 overs.

In reply, Tally O’Farrell (3-18) ripped through the middle-order to reduce the favourites Yorkshire to 41-5 and in a precarious position, but Grace Hall (30) set up a tense finish.

Hampshire then put in a superb fielding performance, claiming two run outs as Yorkshire finished on 134-9 off their 40 overs, sealing the County Championship for Hampshire U15 Girls, who finished the 40-over season undefeated.

They followed their title victory with wins over Surrey and Essex in the T20 formats, meaning that the girls have won six of their seven games in the shortest format of the game.

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