BENTLEY CRICKET CLUB Under 11's triumphed spectacularly winning the Essex District Cup for 2014 defeating Great Baddow by 4 wickets in front of their home supporters on Sunday.

After battling through two superb previous rounds, beating Springfield CC in the Quarter Finals by 1 wicket from the last ball of a tremendous match, needing 32 from the final 4 overs with just 1 wicket remaining. Zekel Brann going in at No.11 supporting captain Ben Stanford to score 32 to secure victory. Then in the Semi-Final overcoming a very strong Brentwood CC U11 team - by again securing victory in the last over, but this time off the penultimate ball by 7 wickets - with Maha Rana batting maturely way beyond her tender years for almost the whole innings for 26 to give Bentley the platform and again captain Stanford to obtain the runs in a thrilling run chase of 28 from the last 5 overs, hitting 5 fours to reach the final, which was to be held at Bentley's home ground.

Then in front of fantastic home support on glorious sunny afternoon Bentley bowled and fielded superbly restricting Great Baddow to 55 all out - with their bowlers returning figures of-Poppy Binnel 2-9, Maha Rana 1-9, Oliver Margiotta 2-6, and Ben Stanford 3-11.
The other 2 Great Baddow wickets to go down due to excellent run-outs from the boundary by Callum Smith and Callum Darby, with other noticeable contributions coming from Lewis Wright, Oliver Portway, Louis Hardy, Zekel Brann having other close appeals turned-down - with sound run saving wicket keeping from Callum Balsom.

With 7 of the current Under 11 squad only just having moved up this year the prospects for next season at Bentley look encouraging - with all the age groups from Under 6's to Under 16's moving into an exciting era; this is in addition to Bentley's Under 16's Girls becoming Essex Match Play Champions held at the Essex County Cricket Club the previous Monday. The future looks very exciting for Bentley Cricket Club.