IN the first leg of the Cotswold Hills Junior League Under-12 final, Badsey have a lead of 27 runs.

A couple of early run outs put North Cotswolds Young Crick-eters Club on the back foot. But the revival was led by Tim Williams-Ellis (13) and an aggressive 39-run partnership between Alex Dancer (21) and Angus Ogilvie who ran brilliantly between the wickets in a score of 272-5.

Solid batting, in particular from Marcus Humpston (22) and Adam Westmacott (17), prevented the bowlers from making inroads as Badsey cruised to 299-2.

NCYCC face an uphill, but not impossible, task in Sunday's return leg.

The club's Under-13 side completely outplayed Drakes Broughton to win by 74 runs.

In their 16 overs NCYCC amassed 320-3 with Matt Spencer (20), Matthew Williams-Ellis (28) leading the run spree. Then ten-year-old Ben Hughes put the home bowlers to the sword with a blistering 35 off four overs.

With wickets falling cheaply to William Dee (4-9) and Tim Williams-Ellis (2-10) the home side were faced with an impossible task. Only Rick Farley (15) put up any resistance in a reply of 246-7.

The Under-14s produced an excellent all-round performance to trounce Gotherington.

The wickets were shared as the visitors were skittled for 199 and the batsmen wasted no time in clocking up the requ-ired runs with Matthew Mit-chell (21) and a blistering innings from Chris Belcher (36) helping notch up a formidable 311-1.

Undefeated this season, the Under-14s recorded a 64-run victory over Tanworth to keep their league title hopes intact.

Mitchell (31) continued his good form with the bat in a total of 278-6. Tanworth's hopes were dashed by leg spinner Tom Clarkson (4-16) as they tumbled to 214-8.

The Under-16s began the Shield KO competition with an exciting last over defeat of Stratford.

Having lost three early wickets, Helliber (21), Hazzell (15) and Cook (21) steadied the ship for Stratford in a score of 95-6.

Mitchell (3-18) was the pick of the attack in a final total of 112 and Wil Green (20) took up the challenge with the bat.

Stratford then regained the initiative with three quick wickets before a splendid partnership between Tom Gill (25 ret) and Jon Neale (24) steered NCYCC home in the last over.