Bartestree & Lugwardine under-15s started their season with a 57-run victory as they headed to Dales in the first round of the National ECB Cup.

After being put into bat Ethan Bartlett and Elliot Gale opened, and the first ball set the tone for things to come – Bartlett clipping it off his legs for four runs through mid-wicket.

The two then batted beautifully together, Bartlett attacking any loose balls and plundering boundaries whilst Gale found gaps in the field and ran well to keep the strike rotating, as well as hitting multiple boundaries himself.

Bartlett moved to his maiden 50 in the 11th over by hitting four successive boundaries off their spinner, and his retirement brought Will Beaumont to the crease.
Gale continued to score freely and also moved to his maiden 50 before eventually being bowled out.

As they entered the last few overs, Tommy Spence started attacking first hitting a six over cow corner and then pulling a huge six over the B&Q in the next over, before he too was bowled out for 13.

The Bartestree youngsters finished their innings on 154-4 after 20 overs – their highest score in a long time.

Bartlett and Carlos Patterson-Navarro opened up the bowling, with each of them bowling out an opener to leave Dales reeling at 14-2.

The club then rotated the bowling across the team, with Tommy Spence, Will Beaumont, Ewan Boyle, Fin Haslam, Rufus Seaborne, Isaac Smith and Callum Spence all bowling.

Every bowler made a contribution and the wickets were well spread across the group – with particular Seaborne and Haslam both taking their first wickets for the team.

Boyle took 2-11 from three overs and Spence claimed an outstanding two wickets for just one run on his debut, celebrating his birthday in style.

Dales were eventually bowled out for 97 in the final over of their innings, giving Bartestree a 57-run win.