QUEEN Elizabeth’s Grammar School have been crowned Blackburn and Darwen Schools Under 13s eight-a-side pairs cricket festival champions.

QEGS proved they were just as good indoors as they were outdoors as they beat St Wilfrid’s in the final of the competition that included nine teams.

The qualifying rounds and semi finals had all been played outdoors but, after the heavens opened, the final was moved indoors for an adapted version of the game.

The competition was played in the Kwik Cricket format with batters batting in pairs for four overs and every time they lost a ‘wicket’ they lost five runs off their total.

The first qualifier was held at Darwen Cricket Club with teams from Darwen Academy, Darwen Vale, Tauheedal, Blackburn Central and Our Lady taking part.

A total of five games were played and it was the two Darwen schools who progressed to the finals day after winning all of their matches.

Darwen CC was again the venue for the second qualifier which included St Bede’s, eventual winners QEGS and festival runners-up St Wilfrid’s.

QEGS won both of their matches while St Wilfrid’s booked their place in the final thanks to a victory over Witton.

Finals day was shifted to QEGS playing fields in Lammack and in the first semi final, the home school beat Darwen Academy, They were joined in the final by St Wilfrid’s who got the better of Darwen Vale in the second semi.

At that point the heavens opened and despite trying to start the final outdoors organises were forced to move inside for an adapted version of the game.

Batters again batted in pairs and lost runs if they were out but runs were scored by hitting the walls and two runs were awarded for every run between the wicket.

In a rematch from Wednesday, QEGS faced St Wilfrid’s outdoors, the same result was reached and QEGS were crowned Blackburn and Darwen U13s Cricket festival champion.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Darwen CC and QEGS for allowing us to use their excellent facilities and to young volunteers who helped out by umpiring and scoring,” said Andrew Mercer, School Games Organiser/Sports Development Manager.

“Hopefully, the experience of playing ‘proper cricket’ at a cricket club will inspire lads to go and join a club and play cricket more regularly.”