Allerton Primary School might not be the first school in Bradford when you come to think of cricket.

But their girls have put them on the map twice – firstly by winning the Bradford Kwik Cricket qualifier at Zara Sports Centre and then by competing in the Yorkshire Primary Schools’ Girls’ Kwik Cricket Regional final at Castleford Cricket Club.

None of the eight girls, who were aged either ten or 11, had previous experience of the sport but they practised hard and then saw the fruits of their labours in the two tournaments.

Fortunately, the sun shone all day at Savile Park and, although Harrogate won through to the national finals from the six competing teams, there was plenty of emphasis on fun too.

There was also the opportunity to rub shoulders with Yorkshire and England women’s cricketer Katherine Brunt and Castleford and Yorkshire left-arm spinner David Wainwright.

Now Allerton Primary School have an after-school cricket club, which is not only proving very popular but also successful. One of the perks for the girls after their achievements was that headteacher Sharon Lambert bought them a set of whites courtesy of the school, see picture left.

They also got green ASDA T-shorts on the finals day, see below.

Allerton’s eight girls were Shannon Hopps, Sadie Schofield, Humaira Ali, Fatima Ali, Mavish Arif, Sabha Arif, Sadia Yaqub and Madiyyah Munawar.

Girls (and women’s) cricket is receiving a boost on Wednesday when a net is being held at Undercliffe Cricket Club (6.30pm-8.30pm).

It is hoped to form a Bradford North Development Group team from this session, and qualified men’s and women’s coaches will be present.

All clubs in the Bradford North and South area have been notified of the trials, and if a side does come out of the session they will play friendlies and festivals later in the season.

Players aged nine and upwards are welcome and if there are sufficient numbers a junior team could also be formed. The first trial was poorly attended and the second was washed out.