GMCL U14s book a place in the LCB Michael Roche Trophy final

GMCL Under 14s Interleague Team

In the last of their group stage matches in this years’ LCB Michael Roche Trophy U14 inter league competition, the GMCL boys beat the Pennine League and booked a place in the final.

GMCL skipper Dan Ainscough (Clifton CC) won the toss and chose to bat.

He and Michael Witts (Heywood CC) played some outstanding shots early on and the 50 partnership was reached inside eight overs.

The introduction of spin brought a double breakthrough for the Pennine League as both Witts (26 runs) and then Aaryman Roy (Prestwich CC) were clean bowled by Deane in the same over.

Ainscough was joined at the crease by Matthew Hall (Woodbank CC) and the pair took the score to 76 for two at drinks (13 overs).

Ainscough was next to fall, miscuing a pull shot just short of his half century.

Kamran Hussain (Stretford CC) batted patiently with Hall (33) and by the next drinks break the score moved onto 119 for three.

Wickets fell steadily as the GMCL boys attempted to post a challenging score, but the runs continued to come, with Oliver Pilkington (Walshaw CC), Owen Halstead (Greenmount CC), Sam Openshaw (Walshaw CC) and Ben Crowther (Worsley CC) all chipping in with very useful runs to take the final score to 205 off the allotted 40 overs.

Pick of the bowlers for the Pennine League were Hussain (three for 37) and Forshaw (three for 27)

The Pennine League innings got off to the worst possible start as opener Matthews was caught by Openshaw off the bowling of Hussain without scoring and then a calamitous run out saw his opening partner Deane removed with the score on just 10.

The spin pair of Lleyton Belston (Bury CC) and Roy both struck early to reduce Pennine to 54 for four at drinks.

Each collected another wicket during well controlled spells of 8 overs, Belston being particularly unlucky having two further chances spilled.

Pennine League skipper Jones added some impetus to the innings, taking the score to 85 for six when a heavy shower interrupted play.

After a break, Pennine were set a revised target of 185, hence needing 100 further runs off the 14 overs left.

Jones set about chasing these quickly with a number of boundaries, but when he was removed, clean bowled by Ainscough for 32, it was effectively game over.

The tail wagged, but spinner Openshaw took the last wicket and the Pennine League were bowled out for 116.

A convincing victory for the GMCL U14s who progress through to the final of this year’s LCB Michael Roche Trophy, to be played early in September.

Details of the date and venue to follow in due course.

Jim Ainscough, GMCL U14s interleague coach/manager, said: "Huge congratulations to all of the boys who have so impeccably represented the league team to date and let’s hope for a repeat performance in the final so they can bring home the silverware."


GMCL 205 all out (40 overs) - D Ainscough 43, M Hall 33, O Halstead 27, M Witts 26. Q Hussain 3-37, R Forshaw 3-27

Pennine League 116 all out (29 overs) - H Deane 39, A Jones 32. A Roy 3-38.