Michael Pedersen 113 Photo © ECC

Region North ran out emphatic winners of the second Regional U15 tournament in Copenhagen, 4-6 July, thanks to an outstanding all-round team performance.

The format of pitching the best players from Denmark's level III coaching programme against each other once again saw another significant increase in playing standards from previous years.

Victorious region North Photo © ECC

In game one, North v South, the North region were indebted to some excellent batting from Thomas Nielsen (33), Indran Sivabala (29) and Martin Pedersen (23) in massing an impressive 181 for eight from their allotted 50 overs.

Lars Flemming Bolt was the pick of Region South's bowlers, taking 1 for 26 in his ten overs. In reply, Region South struggled against the accurate bowling of Mads Johansen, Kumaran, Indran Sivabala, and, notably, Tina ÿ Pedersen (3 for 22) and Hernings Michael Pedersen (3 for 12).

The South's only real resistance came from T¯nder's Christian Wetche 21 and Husum's Kosta Rizos, as they struggled to reply with 126 all out.

Yatmund Christiansen Bowls Martin Christensen Photo © ECC

Day two saw the tournament's crunch match between North and East. Batting first, Region North had a magnificent century from Michael Pedersen (113) and a number of cameo knocks from the rest of the batting order to thank for their formidable total of 232 for 8.

Perfect batting conditions nonetheless saw outstanding bowling from Habib Malik (3 for 51) and Zishan Shah (2 for 52).

In reply the East raced off to fantastic start, making 56 off the first 10 overs, well ahead of the required run rate.

However, wickets fell at regular intervals as a result of consistent bowling from the North, as they eventually finished their innings on a respectable 144 all out.

Rocky Chawla (22) and Michael S¯rensen (38) threatened to get the East back into the match with some stylish stroke play, but it was that man Michael Pedersen again who pegged them back with an impressive 3 for 25.