Durham boys’ under 13s win the 2024 Barnard Castle festival, recording victory in all five matches with two centuries scored across the week by Harry Simpson and Joel Soppit.
The young Ds began positively with an 82-run victory over Middlesex. After choosing to bat first, captain Harry Simpson top scored with an impactful 42 from 22 balls in the middle order as Durham scored 255, with two wickets each for Middlesex pair Thomas Handley and Ishaan Adatia. Harry Simpson took four wickets as Henry Wilds claimed three and Joel Soppit two as Durham bowled out Midlesex for 173.
Durham claimed a second win against Cumbria as skipper Harry Simpson made a century. His unbeaten 101 came from 84 balls and featured seven fours alongside two maximums. Supported by Joel Soppit’s 40, Durham made 226 for seven from 40 overs. In response, the young Ds bowled out Cumbria emphatically for a total of 71, claiming the final eight wickets for just 14 runs. Harry Walker starred with the ball, claiming figures of 4-11 in seven overs.
John Windows’ side recorded a third victory of the week against Bedfordshire, putting on 132 as Harry Simpson top scored again with 30. Durham bowled their opponents out for 59 as Harry Walker claimed three wickets with Joel Soppit, Leo Rokk and Luke Frankland all taking two apiece.
After winning all three group stage fixtures, the young Ds faced Suffolk in the semi-final. Joel Soppit starred with Durham’s second century of the week, an unbeaten 112, as Durham made 228 for six in their 40 overs. Harry Walker took four wickets and Harry Simpson three as Durham’s boys’ side bowled out Suffolk for 107, achieving victory by 121 runs.
In the final Durham faced Western Rhinos, Harry Walker took four wickets and Luke Frankland claimed three as Durham bowled the Rhinos out for 97 in the first innings. Durham went on to record victory in the final by six wickets, Joel Soppit top scoring at the top of the order.