BLACKBURN Central proved to be just too kwik for their rivals after winning the Blackburn with Darwen Schools Under 13s cricket festival.

Played in the kwik cricket format - where batsmen bat in pairs with runs taken away for every wicket lost - Central beat Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in the final to take the honours.

The finals day was held at Salesbury Cricket Club after Darwen Cricket Club had hosted two qualifiers to determine which four teams would progress.

Teams included a mix of Years Seven or Eight and in the first qualifier, Darwen Vale, Darwen Academy, Our Lady & St John’s, St Bede’s High School and Tauheedal Boys School all played two games each.

Each team batted for 16 overs with batters split into pairs who remained at crease for four overs and lost five runs every time they were ‘dismissed’.

The format is designed to ensure all of those involved got a good opportunity to bat and bowl.

St Bede’s and Darwen Academy proved to be the two strongest teams on the day, both winning their two games and progressed to the semi-finals.

The second qualifier saw St Wilfrid’s, Westholme, Blackburn Central and QEGS battle it out and after two matches each, it was Blackburn Central and QEGS who reached finals day at Salesbury.

In the semi finals, Blackburn Central proved to be to be strong for St Bede’s while QEGS defeated Darwen Academy. In the third and fourth place play-off, St Bede’s claimed the win thanks to a victory by 34 runs.

The final itself was of a very high standard with lots of boundaries scored and very few wickets lost.

Blackburn Central batted first and amassed a total of 291 off their 16 overs - teams start on 200 runs.

In reply, QEGS were never out of the game but they continued to lose wickets which meant they were always behind the required rate and Blackburn Central seal victory.

Andrew Mercer, school games organiser, said: “A huge thank you to Darwen Cricket Club and Salesbury Cricket Club for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities all week.

“This allowed some of the young people involved the opportunity to play at a cricket club for the first time in their lives.”