TWO talented Worcester schoolgirls have been selected to play for the England under 15 cricket team.

Holly Penwarden and Sophie Le Marchand will line up against their Scotland counterparts on August 19.

The Scots are using the match at Bradfield College in Reading as a warm up for the forthcoming European Championships.

Both girls play for Dominies and Guild Cricket Club and have represented Worcester-shire at U13, U15 and U17 levels.

They were spotted by the England selectors when they won the U13 National eight-a-side knock-out tournament at Oundle School in July last year.

Holly, aged 13, from Fernhill Heath, is a pupil at Bishop Perowne High School, while Sophie, 12, from Kempsey attends King's School in Worcester.

Both are all-rounders with Sophie currently averaging 37 as an opener for the U15s.

Holly captains the U15s and scored 48 in Worcestershire's opening match of the season against Derbyshire and took 3-8 against Warwickshire.

Sophie has also enjoyed success at school with King's U12s where her best performance came in the win against Bishop's Hereford when she took 4-20 and mde 23no.

"Sophie is a talented all-round cricketer," said Peter Iddon, King's master in charge of cricket.

"She has worked extremely hard at her game and fully deserves the recognition."

After football, cricket is the fastest growing sport among girls in the UK with more than 600,000 primary and secondary girls playing the game.

In Worcestershire girls' club cricket has received a boost this year with the launch of a league featuring seven clubs.

All the clubs need players and youngsters of all standards and abilities.

Girls interested in playing the game can contact the participating clubs on the following numbers:

Alvechurch and Hopwood - Jack Smith (0121-445 4832), Barnards Green - Andy Wheeler (01684-574469), Barnt Green - Liz Hickman (01527-63367), Colwall - Alistair Smith (01684- 563047), Dominies and Guild - Dave Fryer (01905-420340), Evesham - Peter Davidson (01386-860035), Pershore - Dave Price (01905-820241).