Less than 24 hours after having won the Mid Surrey Cup v Wimbledon, the u14s returned to ODP to take on a very strong Harrow CC team in the quarter finals of the Middlesex County Cup.

Harrow won the toss and put us in on a scorching day. With Eddie and Sandy setting the foundation again, combining for a second successive 50 opening partnership, this time off just 43 balls, we looked like setting another big target. Harrow however, with a number of county boys living up to their billing, bowled and fielded really well, pegging us back and eventually we closed at 121-6 off our 20. Sandy top scored with 33 off 22 balls, Eddie made 27, and with strong contributions from Arjun, Vansh and Kyle we were happy enough at halfway, albeit with a sneaking suspicion that we were probably 10-15 light.

That sneaking suspicion started to feel more like concrete certainty as Harrow started strongly. Despite our best efforts, at 96-1 they needed just 26 off 29 with two top players still in and loads of wickets in hand.

As a very wise person once said however, cricket is a funny old game. James, who had bowled their Middlesex opener earlier, removed their two other top players off consecutive deliveries. The momentum shift was profound. Vansh chipped in with 2 more wickets, and as the Rangers squeezed, the equation became 13 required off the last over. Alex took the responsibility, and after some thrills and spills, they needed 3 to win off the last ball - which we defended with a run out going for the second. Cue celebration after a heart stopping win by the finest of margins.

A fantastic all round team performance - they were gone for all money with 5 overs to go, but these boys refuse to lose, and deservedly go through to County finals day next Sunday, 5th August at Teddington.