NCU Youth Cricket 2026
NCU Premier League
Muckamore lost to Instonians by 6 wickets.
Moylena, 14 June.
Muckamore 107 (19.5 overs; Neil Brand 43; Ben Rose 3-21, Shane Dadswell 3-25, Cian Robertson 2-18)
Instonians 109-4 (12.4 overs; Shane Dadswell 94*; Neil Gill 3-15)
Shane Dadswell ensured Instonians’ title defence remains on track with a one-man display in the champions six wickets win over Muckamore at Moylena. After bowling out the home side for 107 – Dadswell three for 25 – the South African professional hit 94 of the Instonians reply as he wrapped up victory in the 13th over. A superb opening spell by Muckamore captain Neil Gill claimed the wickets of Sully Gould, first ball, Jack Dickson and Andrew White, second ball, as the visitors slumped to nine for four. But Dadswell virtually single-handedly took them to victory – Nikolai Smith was 10 not out- when his 10th six, to go with five other boundaries, won the match. It was opposite number Neil Brand who carried the Muckamore innings with 43 (four fours and a six) but he faced only 32 of the 80 balls when he was in the middle as wickets fell around him. Indeed Muckamore were 56 for eight and it needed the last pair of Gill (18 not out) and Luka Bates (16) to get them into three into three figures with a last wicket stand of 32.
NCU Section 1
Derriaghy lost to Templepatrick by 52 runs.
Queensway, 14 June.
Templepatrick 140 (36.2 overs; M Thompson 51, J Smyth 46; M Scoble 3-29, C Lewis 3-32, W Hughes 2-35)
Derriaghy 88 (28.1 overs; R Beckett 23; B Cave 5-24, C Courtney 2-11)
NCU Women's Cup
Sem-final: Instonians beat CSNI by 4 wickets.
Shaw's Bridge, 14 June.
CSNI 101 (28.1 overs; Katie West 46; Natalie Moore 3-14, Anna Ellerby 3-16) Instonians 102-6 (19.4 overs; Matilda McCartney 26, Erin Mitchell 17, Anna Ellerby 17*; Hannah Gordon 2-11, Emily Calvert 2-22)
Player of the Match Anna Ellerby (Instonians CC)
Instonians Women secured a four-wicket victory over CSNI Women after restricting their opponents to 101. Katie West battled hard for 46 and shared a valuable last-wicket stand of 34 with Katie Soper, but Natalie Moore (3-14) and Anna Ellerby (3-16) led the bowling effort. In reply, Instonians reached 102-6 in 19.4 overs. Matilda McCartney provided early momentum with a quickfire 26 featuring four boundaries, while Erin Mitchell added 17. Despite resistance from Hannah Gordon (2-11) and Emily Calvert (2-22), Ellerby’s unbeaten 17 guided Instonians safely into the final.
NCU Women's Cup
Sem-final: Holywood beat Waringstown by 8 wickets.
Seapark, 14 June.
Waringstown 156 (29 overs; Naomi Matthews 51*, Abbi Harrison 33, Penny Speer 22; Erin Bond 3-15, Lucie McNaught 2-29, Lara Maritz 2-30)
Holywood 158-2 (21 overs; Madison Landsman 74, Erin Bond 45*, Christina Soulsby 24*)
Player of the Match Erin Bond (Holywood CC)
Waringstown Women’s hopes of retaining their title were ended by a dominant Holywood Women side, who cruised to an eight-wicket win with nine overs to spare. Openers Abbi Harrison and Penny Speer gave Waringstown a flying start, adding 42 in the first six overs, with Harrison making 33 and Speer 22. Skipper Naomi Matthews anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 51 from 56 balls, striking four boundaries. However, the holders suffered a dramatic collapse late on, losing five wickets for just nine runs to finish on 156. Erin Bond claimed 3-15. Holywood’s reply was built on a match-winning opening stand between Madison Landsman, who blasted 74 from 46 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, and Bond’s run-a-ball 45. Two quick wickets briefly raised Waringstown hopes, but Christina Soulsby’s unbeaten 24 guided Holywood home comfortably.
Reddam House lost to NCU Women Under 18 by 7 wickets.
Constantia, 13 February.
Reddam House 77 (16 overs; Lucy Andrews 6-11)
NCU Women Under 18 78-3 (12 overs; N Lowry 23*)
Reddam House lost to NCU Women Under 16 by 71 runs
Constantia, 13 February.
NCU Women Under 16 141-8 (20 overs; N Kerr 36, E Cupitt 26) Reddam House 70-8 (20 overs; Emma Kennedy 4 for 15 **Including a Hat Trick**)
1st T20: Catch Trust XI lost to NCU Women Under 18 by 23 runs.
Khayelitsha, 11 February.
NCU Women Under 18 138-9 (20 overs; Grace Wilson 30, N Lowry 20; A Pita 3-43)
Catch Trust XI 115-5 (20 overs; F Ongelwa 58*; L Andrews 2-8)
NCU Under 18s (NCU)
The Under 18's made it an NCU double with a 23-run win over the Catch Trust XI. Runs for Grace Wilson (30) and Niamh Lowry (20) saw them post 138 for 9. That was enough despite a half century for Ongelwa - two wickets for Lucy Andrews.
2nd T20: Catch Trust XI lost to NCU Women Under 16 by 99 runs
Khayelitsha, 11 February.
NCU Women Under 16 139-4 (20 overs; L Humphreys 27, M McCartney 21) Catch Trust XI 40-5 (20 overs; E Kennedy 2-6)
NCU Under 16s (CricketEurope)
A fine all-round display saw the NCU Under 16's win by 99 runs. Lucy Humphreys (27) and Matilda McCartney (21) top-scored as they made 139 for 4. The hosts found the going tough as they were restricted to 40 for 5 - two wickets for Emma Kennedy.
Western Province CCbeat NCU Women Under 18 by 105 runs
Rondebosch, 10 February.
Western Province 165 (35 overs; O Roubaix 35*, M Lawlor 27, I van Schalwyk 26; V Minford 4-31, E Carville 2-17, P Speer 2-34) NCU Women Under 18 60 (19 overs; R Webster 17; G Botha 3-12)
Action from Wetsern Province (CricketEurope)
The NCU Under 18's battled bravely turning in a fine bowling display against a very strong and talented Western Province CC side that had a number of senior players in their ranks. Four wickets for Vanessa Minford and two apiece for Emily Carville and Penny Speer saw WP dismissed for 165. The batters though found the going tough as only Rebecca Webster (17) managed double figures as they were bowled out for 60.
Western Province CC beat NCU Women Under 16 by 5 wickets
Rondebosch, 10 February.
NCU Women Under 16 145 (30 overs; L Harper 24, M Mccartney 24, E Cuppitt 23; G Tanya 4-9, H Miche 2-10) Western Province 146-5 (19 overs; W Zaro 44, H Morgan 31, D Jessica 24, H Nateeta 20*; H Gordon 1-12)
NCU Under 16s (CricketEurope)
A valiant effort by the NCU Under 16s against a very strong Western Province CC side. Batting first there were runs for Lucie Harper, Matilda McCartney and Eve Cupitt, but the innings fell away with four wickets for Grace Tanya to be all out for 145. The chase was always on track despite the best efforts of the NCU with one wicket apiece for Hannah Gordon, Ellie Bullick, Laura Suffern and Emily Kennedy.
Boland lost to NCU Women Under 18 by 15 runs
Franschhoek, 8 February.
NCU Women Under 18 238-5 (35 overs; N Lowry 100*, A Hughes 65; L Daniels 3-43)
Boland 223-8 (35 overs; L Daniels 68, L De Waal 46; N Moore 2-30, J Wright 2-37, V Minford 2-42)
Amelia Hughes and Niamh Lowry shared a 165 run stand (CricketEurope)
A brilliant century from Niamh Lowry who shared a 165-run partnership with Amelia Hughes powered NCU Under 18 girls to what proved to be a match winning total of 238 for 5. Despite a fine all-round performance by Leah Daniels who took three wickets and followed it up with a top score of 68, the NCU completed a 15-run win - two wickets apiece from Natalie Moore, Joscelyn Wright and Vanessa Minford.
Boland lost to NCU Women Under 16 by 5 wickets
Franschhoek, 8 February.
Boland 146 (33 overs; L Daniels 28, M Lee-Meyer 20; K West 5-35, H Gordon 2-10) NCU Women Under 16 147-5 (23 overs; E Cupitt 43*)
Katie West took five wickets (CricketEurope)
Five wickets from Katie West and an unbeaten 43 from Eva Cupitt made it an NCU double as they beat Boland U16's by five wickets chasing 147.
1st T20: Northern Suburbs beat NCU Women Under 18 by 9 wickets.
Durbanville, 6 February.
NCU Women Under 18 120-7 (20 overs; R Lowe 37, L Andrews 37; B Chuma 2-22)
Northern Suburbs 121-1 (17 overs; A Linnae 44, X Mbala 34*; L Andrews 1-14)
The backdrop of Table Mountain (NCU)
A rusty opening display by the NCU Under 18 Girls was perhaps understandable as they were emerging from winter hibernation against a Northerns side very much fine tuned in the middle of a domestic season. Lisburn's Rebecca Lowe made a fluent 37 (6 fours) on her way to be joint top-scorer with Lucy Andrews (37) in a total of 120 for 7. Any hopes of it being a competitive score were quickly dispelled by an opening stand of 86 between Linnae (44) and Mbala (34*), with Northerns going on to complete a 9-wicket win in 17 overs - Lucy Andrews (1-14) getting the consolation wicket.
2nd T20: Northern Suburbs lost to NCU Women Under 18 by 8 wickets.
Durbanville, 6 February.
Northern Suburbs 77 (19 overs; F Chloe 27; E Carville 2-18, N Moore 1-4, P Speer 1-11, L Andrews 1-15) NCU Women Under 18 78-2 (12 overs; N Lowry 34 ret, E Mitchell 17*)
Training for the game (NCU)
The NCU under 18 Girls ended the day on a high note as they avenged the morning loss to record an emphatic eight-wicket win over Northerns in the afternoon match. A fine bowling display saw the hosts bowled out for 77 with fine efforts with the ball from Emily Carville (2-18), Natalie Moore (1-4), Penny Speer (1-11) and Lucy Andrews (1-15). There was a slight wobble when openers Emily Wilson and Rebecca Lowe both fell cheaply, but the NCU needn't have worries as Niamh Lowry impressed in a hard-hit 34 before retiring, while Erin Mitchell (17*) guided her side home much to the delight of the large travelling contingent.
2nd T20: Northern Suburbs beat NCU Women Under 16 by 6 wickets.
Durbanville, 6 February.
NCU Women Under 16 53-7 (20 overs; E Bullick 13*; L Armahale 2-6, A Hannah 2-14, M Morgan 2-14) Northern Suburbs 55-4 (9 overs; J Miche 17; E Bullick 2-9, E Kennedy 2-16)
The two NCU squads (NCU)
NCU Under 16 girls' batting failed to fire in their second T20 of the game with two wickets apiece for Armahale, Hannah and Morgan as they were restricted to 53 for 7 - Ellie Bullick top-scoring with an unbeaten 13. Bullick then grabbed two wickets as did Emma Kennedy as the NCU showed admirable fight before eventually falling to a sic-wicket loss.
1st T20: Northern Suburbs beat NCU Women Under 16 by 7 wickets.
Durbanville, 6 February.
NCU Women Under 16 111-7 (20 overs; N Kerr 36*; S Tanya 2-20) Northern Suburbs 112-3 (19 overs; L Zita 43; L Suffern 2-10, K West 1-7)
War paint on (NCU)
The NCU Under 16 Girls lost their first encounter of the day against Northern Suburbs, but they did push the South African side all the way as it took them 19 overs before reaching their target. Batting first the NCU posted 111 for 7, thanks primarily to the efforts of Nina Kerr, who hit five boundaries in an undefeated 36. Lahu Zita's 43 meant Northerns were always in control, but they were kept honest by the efforts of Laura Suffern (2-10) and Katie West (1-7).
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