Worcestershire CCC Academy duo, Reeve Evitts and Ollie Walker, both produced excellent performances with the bat as the Midlands fell agonisingly short of winning the Super Fours T20 competition at Loughborough.
Evitts was the hero of the semi-final win over the South West with an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls.
In the final, Walker made 70 not out from 48 deliveries as the Midlands went down by two runs to the North.
The semi-final was reduced to 10 overs per side and Academy Captain, Joe Stanley, returned fine figures of 2-0-15-2 as the South West made 98-8.
Evitts came to the wicket at 26-3 and kept the Midlands in the hunt with 13 needed from the final over.
He struck the first ball for four, the penultimate one for six over mid wicket and scrambled two from the final ball after hitting the delivery towards mid on to take the Midlands total to 99-6.
The full 20 overs per side was able to take place in the final and Stanley bowled four tight overs for 24 and Evitts (2-0-24-1) and Walker (3-0-32-1) picked up a wicket apiece in a total of 172-5.
Walker batted at number five and his side were in trouble at 31-3 but he added 96 for the fifth wicket with Warwickshire’s George Maddy.
He struck five sixes and three fours but the task of scoring 20 off the final over was just beyond the Midlands despite a great effort.
