Yorkshire’s young cricketers are in with a chance of some double silverware this summer, with both the U18 Girls and U18 Boys teams securing places in their respective National County Knockout 50-over Finals.
This double achievement marks a significant moment for the Yorkshire performance pathway and illustrates the depth of talent across both cohorts.
After a hard-fought campaign, the U18 Boys clinched their place in the final with a dominant semi-final win over Worcestershire.
Having bowled the Pears out for 186, an unbeaten 96 from Will Bennison – who recently signed his first rookie contract – and 52* from Joe Thompson saw Yorkshire knock the target off inside 30 overs.
This followed wins over Cricket Scotland and Cumbria. They will meet Glamorgan in the final.
Meanwhile, the U18 Girls booked their spot in the final with victory over Warwickshire. Jeanie Lee, who is one of several Academy girls to have stepped up into the professional team this season under Rich Pyrah, starred with 6-32.
Skipper Amelia Oliver and Ines Blackwell then both hit unbeaten half centuries helping them to a nine-wicket victory.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
James Martin, Head of Performance Pathway at Yorkshire CCC, hailed the achievement as a proud moment for the club.
“To have both our U18 teams reach their respective national finals in the same season is something really special,” Martin said. “It’s a reflection of the incredible hard work and commitment of the players, coaches, and support staff across the pathway.
“We talk a lot about building a high-performance environment at all levels, and this is what it looks like when that comes to life. These young players have shown outstanding character, not just in the results, but in the way they’ve played their cricket.”
Martin also highlighted the significance of the achievement in the context of Yorkshire’s long-term development strategy:
“It’s important to remember that our ultimate goal is not just to win trophies, but to produce professional cricketers who can succeed at the highest levels of the game. Finals like these give players invaluable experience under pressure, which will serve them well in the future.”
Both teams will now begin preparations for their respective finals:
Girls Under 18s Final vs Surrey – Monday 18th August – Kibworth CC
Boys Under 18s Final vs Glamorgan – Sunday 31st August – Kibworth CC
