A blistering innings of 65 from just 68 balls by Oli Ford was the highlight of Hunts Under 11s four matches at the Minor Counties Cricket Festival at Holbrook, Suffolk.

Ford hit 10 fours against a powerful Yorkshire B bowling attack, but the Hunts batsmen ran out of steam chasing 170 for victory and lost by 34 runs.

There was also a half-century for Sam Jarvis in a hard-fought opening draw against North Essex while Jacob Weir (51no), Sam Noble (40no) and Connor Redpath (35) set up a commanding 108-run victory over Scorpionz.

Hunts’ other match produced a narrow three-wicket defeat at the hands of London Schools. Matthew Mills (31no) and Jarvis (31no) shared a rapid unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 59 but a total of 150-7 wasn’t enough despite a fine spell of 3-8 from Ethan Rice - his second three-wicket haul of the event.

Leg-spinner Rohan Kundaje was Hunts’ most successful bowler over the four matches, picking up 11 wickets in all.

RESULTS

Hunts U11s drew with North Essex U11s

Essex 182 (E. Rice 3-14, R. Kundaje 3-37).

Hunts 158-7 (S. Jarvis 52).

Hunts U11s lost to Yorkshire B U11s by 34 runs

Yorkshire B 169 (R Kundaje 3-22).

Hunts 135 (O. Ford 65).

Hunts U11s lost to London Schools U11s by 3 wkts

Hunts 150-7 (M. Mills 31no, S, Jarvis 31no, C, Redpath 28).

London Schools 153-7 (E Rice 3-8).

Hunts U11s beat Scorpionz U11s by 108 runs

Hunts 210-3 dec (J. Weir 51no, S. Noble 40no, C Redpath 35).

Scorpionz 93 (R Kundaje 3-12).