Sun Bank Under 15 Club Championship reaches Regional Final stage

Just 16 teams remain in the 2002 Sun Bank Under 15 National Club Championship from a record entry list of 1,517 and this will be reduced to only four teams following the completion of the Regional Finals in the coming two weeks.

Four regional centres will hold regional semi-finals and a regional final for four teams each, with only the winner progressing to the national semi-finals and final at Shenley Cricket Club, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday 27 August.

On Tuesday 13 August, York Cricket Club will host the northern regional final between Bourne Cricket Club from Lincolnshire, Fenner CC from Yorkshire, Kendal CC from Cumbria and Upton CC from Cheshire.

On Wednesday 14 August, Bath Cricket Club will host the south western regional final between Basingstoke & North Hants CC (Hampshire), Cardiff CC (Wales), Clyst Hydon CC (Devon) and Weston-super-Mare CC (Somerset).

On Thursday 15 August, Moseley Cricket Club will host the midlands regional final between Moseley Ashfield CC (Warwickshire), Rushton CC (Northamptonshire), Waresley CC (Huntingdonshire) and Shewsbury CC (Shropshire).

On Tuesday 20 August, Horsham Cricket Club will host the south eastern regional final between Addiscombe CC (Surrey), Fives & Heronians CC (Essex), Horsham CC (Sussex) and Wendover CC (Buckinghamshire).

In each case the two regional semi-finals will be played at 10.30am with the regional final taking place at 2.15pm. The matches will be 20 overs a side, with a maximum of 4 overs per bowler.

The tournament, initiated by the Lord's Taverners in 1972 and administered by the England and Wales Cricket Board, is seen as a breeding ground for aspiring cricketers, having helped develop the early talents of current England cricketers Nasser Hussain, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe. Perhaps the most extraordinary performance in the history of the competition came in 1993 when current England cricketer, Andrew Flintoff, smashed a massive 234 not out in 20 overs!