"Henry thoroughly enjoyed the one-on-one sessions and the nets yesterday. You have really given him the confidence to play with his peer group this week and you cannot imagine how grateful I am."

Marie-Louise North

Junior Spin Tournament Results  Friday July 13th 2007 at NPL Teddington

Match 1

  • Sheen Park 116 all out (20 overs)
  • O’Brien 46
  • Ollie Marsh 5 for 14
  • Ealing CC Academy U13’s 117 for 7 (19.2 overs)
  • Nabeel Awan 56 not out
  • Josh Tupper 22

ECC Academy won by 3 wickets

Match 2

  • Ealing CC Academy U13’s 63 all out
  • Rohan Minhas 18
  • Harry Light 4 for 14
  • Richmond 58 all out
  • Ollie Marsh 4 for 11
  • Oscar Dewhurst 3 for 18

ECC Academy won by 5 runs

Match 3

  • Ealing CC Academy U13’s 128 for 8
  • Nabeel Awan 53 retired not out
  • Josh Tupper 24
  • Adam Rosenbaum 21
  • Tom Howe 4 for 13
  • NPL Teddington 78 for 7
  • Oscar Dewhurst 3 for 10
  • Rohan Minhas 2 for 16

ECC Academy won by 50 runs

ECC Academy are Tournament champions – well played Captain Jonny Phillips and his ECC Academy team.

Player of the tournament for 6 catches, 1 run out and combined bowling figures of 16 overs, 10 wickets for 36 runs – Ollie Marsh

Ealing CC Academy U13’s Win Spin Tournament

A drizzly start to the day gave way to much better weather this July 13th when NPL Teddington hosted an under 13 tournament for four west London teams where only spinners could bowl. The unique idea was the brainchild of Mike Griggs who is Cricket Development Officer at Richmond CC and The Lord’s Taverners, who do so much to support youth cricket in the UK.

Ealing’s first game proved to be a tight affair as they took on Sheen Park who batted first and made a useful total of 116 all out in damp conditions. Young off-spinner Ollie Marsh bowled with great maturity for Ealing Academy in taking 5 for 14 from 5 overs. Things were never easy for Ealing as Sheen Park bowled and fielded well but solidly built opener Nabeel Awan showed a cool head and a meaty swing of the bat as he saw his side home by 3 wickets in the last over, Nabeel finishing 56 not out aided by Josh Tupper’s tidy 22.

Richmond were the next opponents and the drying conditions changed the nature of the wicket completely making it a lovely proposition for a spinner prepared to give the ball a good rip. Superbly controlled off-spin from Richmond’s Harry Light caused mayhem in the Ealing batting line up as they collapsed to 30 for 7 and the prospect of a total they could not defend. Fortunately, a plucky 18 from Rohan Minhas and 10 from Jemal Toussaint got Ealing up to 63 before the final wicket fell and an outside chance, albeit a very slim one.

Ealing opened with Ollie Marsh and young Oscar Dewhurst, the diminutive left arm tweaker who is fast achieving cult status at the club on account of his cheeky smile and Monty Panesar fielding style, and soon the wickets started falling. 7 for 2 became 7 for 3 as Ollie took a superb caught and bowled and a run out followed – game on. Richmond found themselves 30 for 7 too and another caught and bowled from Ollie left their lower order needing 20 to win with 2 wickets left. A boundary, some quick singles and a few leg byes and 10 more were needed for Richmond to snatch victory. Captain Jonny Phillips had other ideas and his beautifully flighted off break found the Richmond No.10 LBW on the back foot. The coup de grace was delivered courtesy of another run out and Ealing had achieved an improbable victory by 5 runs with Ollie taking 4 for 11 and Oscar 3 for 18.

Ealing were likely champions but still wanted to go out on a high against home side NPL Teddington. Batting first, they amassed 128 for 8 with Nabeel making an excellent 53 not out and Josh Tupper and Adam Rosenbaum useful 20’s. Oscar Dewhurst was again to the fore courtesy of some sharp glovework by keeper Robbie White and Rohan Minhas whirled away with his leg-breaks to good effect. NPL finished 78 for 7 in their 20 overs and Ealing were deserved champions.

Captain Jonny Phillips and his victorious team celebrated in true style with a well earned drink – 5 cans of Coke and a large jug of orange squash. A great day was had by all and thanks must go again to NPL Teddington for hosting the tournament and Mike Griggs for putting in the time and effort to organise it.

One thing is for certain – there are plenty of good young spinners coming through in England and they should all be encouraged to be the next Monty Panesar as much as possible.

Wello