Thursday, August 24th, 2023

SPINNERS PLAY LEADING ROLE FOR ACADEMY IN TWO DAY WIN

Spinners Ciaran Baker-Smith and Harris Ajaz played key roles for Worcestershire Academy (Under-18s) as they defeated Shropshire by 80 runs in a two-day friendly at Stourport-on-Severn.

The duo picked up 15 of the 20 wickets to fall with Baker-Smith having match figures of 20-4-77-8 and Ajaz 24.2-4-117-7.

Worcestershire opted to bat and totalled 276 from 69.5 overs in their first innings with opener Nathan Jukes top-scoring with 73 from 80 balls with nine fours.

He put on 112 for the second wicket with Haris Khan (50).

Shropshire were bowled out for 109 in 29.3 overs with Baker-Smith having figures of 10-3-25-6.

When Worcestershire batted for a second time, opener Harry Sockett hit 63 of their 119-4 declared from 29 overs.

Shropshire were set 287 to win and this time it was Ajaz who did most of the damage with 14.2-1-87-5.

*Worcestershire Women’s Rapids Under-18s defeated Cambridgeshire Cricket Board by six wickets in an ECB Girls Under-18 County T20 Group Two match at Geddington CC.

Cambridgeshire were restricted to 140-7 after electing to bat with Bryony Gillgrass (4-1-24-2) and Niamh Campbell (4-0-19-2) the most successful bowlers.

Opener Rosie Ward made 45 off 49 balls with five fours for the Rapids and put on 71 for the first wicket with Georgina Williams (16).

The Rapids reached their target with an over to spare and were aided by a total of 45 extras.