Email This Article To Someone!

There was perfect weather for Sweden's inaugural under-20 cricket tournament, the Stockholm Junior Challenge, organized by the Swedish Cricket Federation. This tournament is the first step towards the introduction of a national Junior Cricket League in 2007, which will create a natural bridge between informational meetings in schools and the National Cricket League.

Three teams competed in the Junior Challenge, all backed by established Stockholm clubs: Afghan Tigers, Jinnah Falcons and the Sigtuna Lions. Many of the players are already familiar with cricket through association with senior players at the clubs, but until this competition have often found the transition from tape-ball to hard-ball cricket against full senior teams fraught with disappointment. Competition against their peers is therefore vital so that they can continue to enjoy the game.

All matches were single-innings, 20 over games, played at Hallunda Cricket Ground in Botkyrka, with umpires appointed by the Swedish Cricket Federation from the national umpiring pool. Sigtuna Lions had a straight run of victories in all their matches culminating in an unreachable 200/8 in the final against the Afghan Tigers who could only manage a brave 169/4 in their 20 overs.