Ilkley Grammar School’s U15 girls have realised the dream of a lifetime by winning the English Schools’ National Cricket Championships with a sensational performance at Lord’s.

Their amazing adventure began at Headingley in March where 16 Yorkshire schools competed for the title of county champions. Ilkley GS overcame tough challenges from Harrogate, Halifax and Thirsk to progress to the next stage of the competition.

Extended training sessions prior to the North of England regional finals at Sheffield clearly paid dividends as the girls won difficult games against Cheshire and Northumberland and earned a dramatic tie with Lancashire. Again, IGS’s playing record was the best of the competing schools as they lifted their second piece of silverware of the season.

With Yorkshire and North of England titles to their name, the rapidly improving squad had reached the last four in England and prepared to face the top school teams from The Midlands, South-East and South-West in the national finals at Lord’s. The excited party travelled to London the day before the tournament, breaking their journey for an intensive workout at Doncaster Dome en route. Once in the capital, the group enjoyed fascinating guided tours around the new Wembley Stadium and Lord’s itself as they prepared for their big day.

Once at Lord’s, the girls’ first game of a round-robin league programme was against Oathall School, Sussex. Ilkley lost the toss and were invited to bat first. Undeterred by a large crowd which included MCC members and England internationals, the Yorkshire champions set the standard for the day with a very impressive 98 for 2 in their 10 overs, thanks to some good batting technique and outstanding running between the wickets from Brittany Tate and Naomi Pratt in particular. The Sussex team seemed overwhelmed by the task of reaching this score and collapsed for 28 all out, as IGS won the game by a landslide 70 runs.

Their next opponents, Robert Smythe School from Leicestershire, provided a sterner test, but the Yorkshire side’s 79 for 4 was again more than enough. Tight bowling and alert fielding, including three catches in as many minutes from Ruby Parker, restricted the Midlanders to 48 for 7 and Ilkley recorded their second victory of the day by 31 runs, another substantial margin.

Ilkley’s last remaining obstacle came in the form of Cornwall winners, Mounts Bay, who had beaten Leicestershire and Sussex by chasing scores of 24 and 28 respectively. Losing the toss for the third time, IGS were put into bat once again, but on this occasion struggled to set a competitive score against some skilful bowling and dynamic fielding. Their total of 51 for 5 was under par, despite a well crafted 20 retired from Caitlin Williams, her third of the day. Everybody had to be on top of their game as captain, Naomi Pratt, led her team onto the field for the last time. Their top priority was to restrict scoring opportunities and they knew they could rely on youngsters Chloe Dinsdale and Ellie Taylor to hold their nerve.

Mounts Bay’s experienced openers, set about their task methodically, taking virtually no risks as they homed in on Ilkley’s moderate target. With 15 needed from the final three overs, a Cornwall victory seemed inevitable. According to the rules of the competition 3 runs are deducted from the batting total each time a wicket falls. Ilkley’s only hope was to take quick wickets and that’s precisely what they did, three of them in the last two overs. Cornwall were left stranded on 36 for 4, 15 runs short as the highly competent Hannah Screeton and ice-cool Florence Haines delivered the last two menacingly accurate overs of the day. The victors could hardly contain their joy as they broke into a spontaneous jig around the arena. Captain, Naomi Pratt’s day was complete as she lifted the precious trophy and Player of the Tournament award from England international, Ebony Jewell Rainford-Brent.

Team manager, Peter Blackwell, said: “The School is extremely proud of the players. Their victories over four Yorkshire schools in the early rounds and representative winners from Cheshire, Northumberland, Leicestershire, Sussex and Cornwall, and the tie against Lancashire, were all characterised by stylish technique, outstanding teamwork and a genuine desire to play the game to the best of their ability. Five members of the victorious squad are involved in local club cricket and I would like to acknowledge the contribution club coaches have made to our success. Naomi Pratt (Guiseley CC), Caitlin Williams (Burley CC and Pool CC), Chloe Dinsdale (Burley CC), Ellie Taylor (Ilkley CC / now Pool CC) and Florence Haines (Ilkley CC) have clearly received some excellent tuition from dedicated coaches at their respective clubs. For the other four players, Hannah Screeton, Brittany Tate, Ruby Parker and Olivia Herbert, to achieve the status of national champions without club experience is even more remarkable.”

Report by P.L. Blackwell