Delray Rawlins England Under 19 Lions Squad teammates Euan Woods takes four wickets and Jack Blatherwick three as youngsters finish off tour on a high.
Peter Such has praised the Young Lions squad for the way they responded to an injury-hit start to their training camp in Dubai.
The tourists completed an emphatic 10-wicket win in their three-day game against a UAE XI at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium today, with Surrey off-spinner Woods taking two of the last three wickets to end with four for 43.
That was a fitting end to the trip for the tall all-rounder from Wargrave in Berkshire, whose unbeaten century in the third one-day match against the UAE was identified by Such as the tour highlight.
“It’s been a really solid training camp, which has given the lads something to build on for a very challenging trip to India in the New Year,” said Such, the ECB’s lead spin-bowling coach who stepped up as acting head coach with Andy Hurry missing on compassionate leave.
“But it’s always good to win, and we’ve ended with a clinical and ruthless performance against the local team.”
Such praised Blatherwick, the Nottinghamshire fast bowler who took three wickets in each innings, and also Yorkshire batsman Harry Brook, who made 98 to ensure a commanding first innings lead.
“All the spinners have had to take more responsibility after we lost Amar Virdi early in the trip, and all four of them – Woods, Will Jacks, Rawlins and Max Holden – have stepped up and bowled well. Moving forward they will need to continue that when we go to India.
“But the outstanding performance of the tour was the century made by Woods. He played superbly, a really mature innings and a case of an individual taking responsibility for finishing the game off. And he’s finished the tour off with four wickets as well.”
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