Schoolboy cricketers batting for London’s East End have booked a return trip to Lord’s—after an early scare at the London Youth Games at the weekend.

The Tower Hamlets team, who reached third place last year, lost their opening group game this year to outsiders Lewisham in yesterday’s indoor male qualifier round at the Harrow Leisure Centre.

But they fought back with thumping victories making 154 runs against Waltham Forest and 140 against Bexley in their 10 overs.

“The first game didn’t really go to plan,” admitted team manager George Well. “We had an uphill climb after that.

“There was a bit of a stern talking to, but they got their act together.”

His team topped the group after Lewisham lost their other games, so Tower Hamlets now goes on to to the finals against seven other London boroughs at Lord’s on March 2.