Kildwick Primary School are through to the finals of the 2013 Drax Cup – the biggest cricket competition for under-nines in the country – and will now get to play at Headingley.

The Craven team were crowned North Yorkshire champions after a thrilling five-run victory over Our Lady Queen of Martyrs from York in the regional tournament involving nine schools from North Yorkshire and Teesside at Dunnington Cricket Club in York.

Kildwick made 262-6 compared to Our Lady Queen’s 257-4 and remained unbeaten to reach the final, winning a derby against Threshfield 240-226 and securing victories over Lealholm from Whitby (255-220), Dunnington (286-224) and by three runs in a decider against Richmond Primary.

Threshfield came fourth in their pool with a 236-219 win over Lealholm and then secured victory against Chandlers Ridge from Middlesbrough to again face Lealholm, beating the Whitby school in a play-off to finish seventh overall.

Kildwick now play at Headingley on Tuesday, July 9, prior to Yorkshire Vikings facing Leicestershire Foxes in the Friends Life t20.

The Drax Cup this year attracted a record 440 schools from across Yorkshire.