A young team of cricketers are through to the regional finals of a national competition.

Saffron Walden U15s will play Dorridge in Monday's semi-final at Royal Leamington Spa. Victory in the final later that day would send them through in the National T20 Cup.

They reached that stage after a six-wicket win away to Eaton Socon where Walden won the toss and elected to bowl first.

The kept the run rate under four for the first half of the innings but were unable to take wickets, and it allowed the home side to reach 137-2.

Xander Silverwood claimed 1-15 in his maximum four overs to be the pick of the bowlers.

And Eaton Socon had more luck with the ball. However, while they could take wickets, they couldn't stop the runs and Walden crossed the line in the penultimate over.

Top run-scorer was Alex Demetriou-Foulds retiring 50 not-out.

The senior sides put in a some encouraging performances, even if the thirds were the only winners.

In the East Anglian Premier League, Walden lost by two wickets at home to Mildenhall.

 

Nick Taylor (47) was unlucky not to have his patient building of an innings rewarded with at least a half century, as was Bryn Mendel with 48.

Tailender Cam Taylor’s 18 runs off 10 balls were an inspired final burst and got Walden to a positive score of 173, although one the title chasers were still expected to reach.

Dropped catches in the first overs proved missed chances as Mildenhall pushed on although Taylor (2-33) and Ben Harris (3-88) left the visitors on 85-4 after 17 overs.

The run rate was never an issue and it meant Walden needed wickets.

Sam Robinson (2-31) took out the middle order but they were close enough to the target for the tail to see the game home.

Skipper Josh Down said: "Although there was just too little on the board to work with, we have shown we are capable of threatening top teams."

The seconds were beaten away by Burwell & Exning, although they came short of claiming a draw by just five balls.

All three options were on the table as the final over began but Stan Leech, who had made an explosive 48 in 37 deliveries, was out on the first ball, leaving Walden 22 runs short of the win.

Walter Forsey chipped in with 33 runs while Ali Hancock had earlier taken 3-38 and Xander Silverwood 3-47.

The fourths were beaten by Blasham at Saffron Walden High School, losing by five wickets.

Captain Jed Bailey scored an outstanding 91 and Dylan Bose managed 43.

The thirds though triumphed by four wickets at Linton Village with just two balls remaining.

The home side were all out for 246 with Matthew Rowlandson’s spin bowling bagging him 4-58 and Henry Rodda’s pace 3-37.

Hywel Bowen then top scored for Walden with 82 while Johnny Brace  got 44.

It was left though to Charlie and Matthew Rowlandson to get the winning runs.

High Roding were on cloud nine after a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Stock in the Mid Essex Cricket League.

Stock batted first and made 180, Freddie Knightley claiming 4-25 while Archie Halls took three wickets in one over.

In reply Ben Chillingworth (59) and Josh O’Connor (46) shared a century partnership before 
Travis Doyle (41*) and Tegid Thomas (23*) saw them home, picking up a ninth straight win and keeping them top of the Premier Division.

The seconds had no such luck losing away to Stock.

The home side managed 212 all out, with Charlie Smith taking 3-42 and Harry Pilcher 5-29 for Roding.

And they could not match the Stock's batting in spite of knocks of 55 by Chris Townsend, 35 from Angus Burns and Tahir Khan's 28.

That left them all out for 176.

The thirds suffered a similar fate when replying to High Beache’s 236, bowled out for 152.

And the ladies could not reverse the swing when they were thoroughly beaten at home by Wansted, all out for 75 chasing 229-2.