After 3 years of hosting and welcoming our Australian visitors the Shaun Brown International Cricket Academy's (Australia) emerging players squad on their tour of UK and Dubai, we can honestly say that every year really does gets better than the last!!
This continuous phenomenal weather providing the backdrop to a brilliant day of excellent youth cricket, as we welcomed lads from across the two leagues (GMCL & SMJCL) we are associated with, after being nominated by coaches at their respective clubs, who should be very proud of their exemplary and gentlemanly behaviour throughout the day.
SBCC XI batted first scoring 184 runs all out, 58 of their tally coming from the bat of Nathan Beattie, after a fine innings, racking up eight 4's and one 6 in the process he was finally bowled by Stand CC's Luke Solis 3w-1m-26r-8ov, Didsbury CC's Tayib Khan also bowling well 3w-0m-34r-7.2ov.
After a traditional English Cricket tea and catching up with the progress at Wimbledon on the big screen, the League Select XI walked out with a target of 185 to win.
It was pretty obvious from the get go that runs and quick ones at that, were the order of the day, with Didsbury CC's Hashir Khan (41) and Brooklands CC's Jim Hugall (40) setting a blistering run trail that was quickly followed up by Stretford CC's & today's Captain Thomas Coulson with a dominating 60 not out, incorporating 8 fours and three massive 6's.
Didsbury CC's Nauman Rehman also not out on 34, Inter League Select XI finishing on 189/2 off 19.5 overs, winning by 8 wickets.
Presentation of Lancashire Caps for best performances from Wythenshawe CC's Chairman Mike Dean went to Nathan Beattie (SBCC) and Thomas Coulson (Select XI)

SBCC's UK tour coach Phil O'Meara presented SBCC Caps to Nauman Rehman for his showcase reverse sweeps and again Thomas Coulson was rewarded for his 60 not out.

We wish our Australian guests and Conor Noone from Horizon Sports Tours all the best for the rest of their UK tour and safe journey home, we look forward to doing it all again next July.

Huge thanks to all the lads, Ammar Malik (Austerlands) Robert Jones (Roe Green) Noah Phillips (Wythenshawe) Ethan Chiappe (Shaw) Jim Hugall & Joe Gill (Brooklands) Thomas Coulson (Stretford)
Luke Solis (Stand) and Hashir Khan, Tom Bidwell, Tayib Khan and Nauman Rehman from Didsbury for playing and being great role models for youth cricket in Greater Manchester.

Thank you to Fred Leatherbarrow and Mike Dean for umpiring duties and for a great joint effort in once again preparing a playing surface fit for an international, to Eddie for the great teas and Tracy for organising and photos.

Another truly wonderful day here at Wythenshawe CC, Longley Lane, Northenden, Manchester, where the true winner today was cricket, youth, sportsmanship and friendship, well done everyone.

Tracy Bailey
Wythenshawe CC Jnr Secretary-Organiser