Shree Cutchi Leva juniors managed to do what their seniors have so far failed to do this season when they beat defending champions Oshwal Academy by 2 wickets to win the 2007 Obuya Crown Berger Junior Cricket Tournament.
SCL scraped home after bowlers from both teams had a good day. Oshwal were bowled out for 72 after choosing to bat, and SCL had a few shakes of their own on the way to victory.
Hosts Nairobi Jaffery did not have as good a tournament as they had hoped with both their sides falling in the semi finals. Still, with the senior team going from strength to strength at the top of division 3, it may not be too long before Nairobi Jaffery 'B' return to the NPCA leagues if they continue to bring their juniors through.
Sponsored by Crown Berger, longtime supporters of Kenyan cricket, and organised by the Obuya Cricket Academy, the aim of the tournament is to identify and nurture talent at a young age that can then be brought through to the senior levels. Tournament coordinator, Joseph Agunga announced that the tournament would also be used to help choose a 15 man squad to head to Australia for an invitational junior tournament in December.
With the national Cricket Academy still kept out of reach of Cricket Kenya due to questionable legalities that handed it over to Simba Union under the old KCA, it is heartening for Kenyan cricket fans that tournaments like this continue to thrive and build up interest amongst the youth. With a national league touted for November, Cricket Kenya would do well at trying to set up a national system to bring these young players through so their talent can be grown and utilised at the top level.


