Kent looking to reach national finals this weekend

Kent are chasing success on three fronts this weekend. The girls“ county age groups at under 13, under 15 and under 17 level will all hope for a place in the last four of the national finals.

The quarter final draw for 2010 is as follows:

Under 13:
Kent v Suffolk, Wales, who have a bye, Buckinghamshire v Lancashire, Yorkshire v Devon

Under 15:
Warwickshire v Hampshire, Devon v Worcestershire, Kent v Yorkshire, Norfolk v Oxfordshire

Under 17:
Yorkshire v Kent, Wales v Essex, Warwickshire v Sussex, Somerset v Devon

The matches will take place on Saturday (14 August) and we wish all three teams success! The teams winning their respective quarter-final will then progress to the semi-final stage of the competition, which will be held at three venues nationally – Ellesmere College, Cheadle Hulme School and Campbell Park, Milton Keynes on Saturday August 28.

The national finals will be held at Hatherley & Reddings CC (Under 13 and Under 15) and Bishop Stortford CC (Under 17) on Saturday September 11.

Girls“ county cricket is now seen as an integral part of each county“s performance pathway and is underpinned through some developing and mature club structures now in place for girls“ cricket.

Nationally there are 344 clubs that provide opportunities for girls“ cricket and each county cricket board is working locally to increase this number.

Commenting on the success of the three age groups, the KCB’s director of community cricket, Gary Stephens (pictured), said: "Reaching the quarter finals is obviously a great achievement so I would like to congratulate the girls in all three teams. The players have worked very hard to reach this stage of the competition, as have the various coaches and support staff. Girls cricket is important in Kent and we aim to become the leading county, the fact that the under 13, 15 and 17 teams have an opportunity to reach the national semi-finals demonstrates that we are on the right track."