Our boys lifted the prestigious Under-13s title thanks to a powerful batting display which saw them post totals over 160 in both their matches. In the final, their 20-overs score of 161-8 proved too steep an incline for Skipton School, Ermysted's, to scale, as they fell 96 runs short.
"It's a fantastic achievement," said Mark Ross, head of boys PE at Benton Park. "The boys have trained hard all season and have played with a great attitude. "We were put into bat in the semi-final on what was a green pitch, so when we won the toss in the final, we wanted to carry that momentum on and bat first."
And the team came out firing. Tom Lester opening the final by hoisting a six towards Headingley's brand new scoreboard. He made 22 in a quickfire seven balls including two sixes and two fours.
Jordan Thompson joined Callum Crosby at the crease and the pair continued the pace, racing to their 50 partnership off 41 balls.
At the halfway stage they were
on course to eclipse the 167 runs they amassed in the semi-final as they reached
95-1.
Callum, Benton’s skipper finally made 43 off 31 balls with four fours and two sixes and Jordan reached his half-century after 39 balls, having smacked five fours and two sixes with the team closing on 161-8.
The boys enjoying a well earned break.
Benton’s bowling was equally impressive with Tom Lester, Stuart Ward, Jordan Thompson and Mac Osborne giving little away.
Tom took the third wicket and Spinner Stuart whipped out the middle order with a devastating spell of 3-8 from four overs, a performance that caught the eye of the watching Yorkshire batsman Gary Balance who presented the trophies and cricket equipment at the end of the competition. He said about the Benton Park boys, "There looked to be a lot of talented youngsters on show, especially Ward the leg spinner."
Mac Osborne and Henry Edwards dismissed the tail as Ermysted's were dismissed for 65.
The boys celebrating their win with Les Taggart (above), who umpired the final on his final day after 34 years teaching at Benton Park School.
