Altrincham Grammar School for Boys have made cricketing history after being crowned the first-ever champions of a new national competition for state schools at Lord’s.
The school’s Under-15 team beat John Hampden Grammar School by six wickets at the Home of Cricket yesterday to lift the inaugural Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup.
AGSB emerged victorious from a competition that attracted more than 1,100 teams from state schools across the UK, including 780 in the boys’ competition.
Named after England stars Heather Knight and Ben Stokes, the new tournament was launched by MCC and the MCC Foundation to give more state-school pupils the opportunity to play competitive hardball cricket.
After navigating 13 matches on their way to the final, AGSB’s players were given the full Lord’s experience for their biggest game of all.
They changed in the players’ dressing room, watched the action from the famous Pavilion balcony and walked through the Long Room, while former England cricketer and AGSB old boy Paul Allott delivered a pre-match talk. The team also received video messages from Knight and Stokes.
John Hampden won the toss and elected to bat, setting AGSB a challenging target after making 146 for six from their 20 overs.
Captain Aryan D led the bowling effort with two wickets for 16 runs from his four overs, while Arik C took two for 31 and Murtaza K one for 22.
AGSB then made a superb start to their run chase as openers Krishav R and Charlie R put on 91 for the first wicket.
Charlie struck seven fours on his way to 47 from 41 balls before falling just short of a half-century.
Krishav went one better, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 48 deliveries, including five fours and a six.
AGSB eventually reached their target in the 19th over, with Joe O hitting the winning runs and eight balls still remaining.
Head of PE Mr D Birtwell described the occasion as a “superb achievement for both sport and cricket at AGSB”.
The victory also means Altrincham Grammar will forever occupy a unique place in the history of the competition.
A permanent Knight-Stokes Cup honours board was unveiled at Lord’s after the finals, with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys the first name to appear on it.
The winning squad was Charlie R, Krishav R, Sithun D, Yasmit P, Aahan M, Joe O, Arush B, Ishan M, Arik C, Aryan D, Murtaza K and Dheer B.
Mr Birtwell also paid tribute to every squad member who contributed across the 13 matches on the road to Lord’s, as well as fellow coach Mr Cammack.
The Knight-Stokes Cup was created partly in response to the disparity in opportunities between young cricketers in the state and independent school sectors, with organisers hoping the new national competition can provide a pathway and showcase for talented state-school players.
