For the first time, Old Elizabethans CC entered an U13 team into the Middlesex Colts Association Indoor Cricket Competition this winter. This fast paced version of the game really teaches the players about tactics and how to play both offensively and defensively depending on a match situation. In the first two match days the OE's boys had to learn fast against more experienced opposition. Although they found the adjustment difficult, they did well enough to be entered into the Indoor Plate finals day, held on Sunday 19th March.

The first of three matches, against Crouch End, again proved to be a stern test although a solid fielding performance restricted the opponents to a gettable 96 runs off the 12 overs allowed. However, the boys batting let them down with too many loose shots and silly run outs contributing to a well below par 21 runs. The manager reminded the team in the break between matches that they were good cricketers who just needed to learn from their mistakes and take a different approach tactically. Batting first in the second game, the boys performed much better, amassing a very good 105 asking North London to bat well to win. The OEs bowlers applied pressure from the start and were always on top in the second innings and North London struggled to 83 from the allotted 12 overs. The opponents for the last match were a very smart and professional looking Stoke Newington who asked OEs to bat first. After a shaky start from the first pair, the run rate really accelerated and the boys set a target of 108 - the best score of any team on the day. Stoke Newington had won their first two games so there was everything to play for in the last innings of the tournament. OEs performed brilliantly in the field, bowling a tight line with very few extras, all catches were held and with a run out or two as well, the Stoke Newington batsmen could only manage 45 runs in reply. A superb performance by the OEs boys. There were a tense few minutes while the scorers checked through the bonus points before Old Elizabethans were declared the winners by three points. The first silverware of the season! Many thanks to the parents for supporting the boys and for transport services through the winter and of course to the players as follows:

Finals Day - Toby Scott, Charlie Surtees, Jairaj Regan, Oliver Webster, Josh Jennings, William Caistor-Parker, Euan Ferguson and Utkarsh Bhamidimarri
Other players from the first two days - Abhivansh Jindal, Shivam Bhindi, Jack Wells, Louie Printemps, Marcus Aitken and Fionn Mckinley