SCHOOLGIRLS from London’s East End bowled out their competitors on Saturday to qualify for the finals of the schools’ cricket contest. A squad drawn from three Tower Hamlets secondary schools beat teams from neighbouring Newham and eight other London boroughs to qualify for the Balfour Beatty Youth Games Cricket Cup finals

GIRLS from London’s East End beamed after they bowled out their competitors on Saturday to qualify for the finals of the schools’ cricket contest.

A squad drawn from three Tower Hamlets secondary schools beat teams from neighbouring Newham and eight other London boroughs to qualify for the Balfour Beatty Youth Games Cricket Cup finals.

They go on to the Super 8s on Saturday (March 7) at Lord’s Indoor School—the same facility used by England stars such as Charlotte Edwards, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.

The girls signed a poster between matches, wishing the England Women’s team luck for the World Cup in Australia.

Tower Hamlets’ squad was Mercy Brown (captain), Morgan Williams, Brandi James and Nermeen, all from Bishop Challoner Secondary, Jessica James, Nishat Khanon and Pinar Yogmur, all from Langdon Park Secondary, and Georgette Beney from St Paul’s Way Community.

The Cup was first introduced in 1996 as a six-a-side indoor competition for under14s. A record 600 young cricketers from 30 London boroughs are competing in the 2009 qualifiers.