On Saturday, 27th of February, the second U-15 indoor cricket tournament (Belgrade Championship) was held in the indoor hall of “Jovan Sterija Popović” elementary school in New Belgrade. This time, the interest of children was even higher so instead of four, as previously planned, there were five 7-a-side teams competing – three from the “school of cricket” in New Belgrade and two from “Stari Grad”. What is even more important is that the level of cricket was much improved in comparison with the first tournament. The teams looked more compact and tactically aware, with bowling, running between the wickets and the fielding being the three main areas of improvement.
The teams were divided in two groups – Group A (Centurion, Sava and Blokovi/Mirijevo A) and Group B (Mirijevo and Stari Grad). In group A the matches were played in accordance with single round robin system, whereas in group B teams played each other twice. The second placed team in both groups then played the 3rd place play off, and the first placed played the final.
The matches were very tightly matched and competitive, due to the much better understanding of the game in comparison with the first tournament. What’s more, two matches had to be decided in super over!
The winner of the tournament was, surprisingly, the second team of Mirijevo – Blokovi, who in the final beat their “more established” team-mates. The third place was reserved for Centurion, the winners of the first tournament. Unfortunately, the guests from the city centre- Sava and Stari Grad this time had to return home without medals. The best batter of the tournament was again Luka Milićević, who this time played for Blokovi, whilst the best bowler was an extremely talented 13 year old, Milica Andrić of Centurion.
It should be mentioned that the tournament was honored by the presence of eminent guests who presented the trophy and the medals: H.E. Arif Mahmood, the Ambassador of Pakistan; Ms. Melinda Rio, the First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in Belgrade; Dr. Dane Korica, representative of the Serbian Sports Association and one of the best athletes in the history of Serbian sport, and the headmaster of the “Jovan Sterija Popović” school, Mr. Dejan Pavković.
Nenad Dugic, on the behalf of the Belgrade Cricket Association, was very pleased with the progress that youth teams made and praised help and the support of the Serbian Cricket Federation, Municipalities Stari Grad and New Belgrade, the SOS Kit Aid and the ICC.
The third and the final U15 indoor cricket tournament will be held at the premises of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, on Sunday 27th of March.
Results of the matches:
Group A:
Centurion 36/3 – Blokovi 36a.o. Super over Blokovi 12/0 – Centurion 5/1. Blokovi won by 7 runs.
Player of the match – Milica Andrić (11 runs, 3 wickets)
Blokovi 53/3 – Sava 48/2. Blokovi won by 5 runs.
Player of the match – Luka Milićević (14 runs, 1 wicket, 1 maiden over)
Centurion 65/2 – Sava 55/3. Centurion won by 10 runs
Player of the match – Milica Andrić (10 runs, 2 wickets)
Group B:
Mirijevo 56/1 – Stari Grad 57/3. Stari Grad won by 4 wickets
Player of the match – Ivana Stolić (6 runs, 1 wicket)
Mirijevo 60/5 – Stari Grad 46/1. Mirijevo won by 14 runs.
Player of the match – Aleksa Marković (16 runs)
Super over qualifier Mirijevo 11/1 – Stari Grad 7/2. Mirijevo won by 4 runs.
3rd Place Play off:
Centurion 39/3 – Stari Grad 32/0. Centurion won by 7 runs.
Player of the match: Radovan Kukolj (12 runs)
Final:
Blokovi 57/2 – Mirijevo 53/1. Blokovi won by 4 runs.
Player of the match: Luka Milićević (15 runs, 1 wicket)