STRIKING with just an over to spare, cricketers from Hexham booked their place in the northern finals.

Queen Elizabeth High School produced the county champions in the U15 Lady Taverners indoor cricket competition, edging past John Spence High, of North Shields, in a well-contested final.

John Spence got off to a shaky start as QE had them struggling on 5-3 after 1.1 overs, but they recovered well to post a competitive final score of 86.

The QE openers started brightly but a couple of quick wickets had the game finely poised as the North Shields girls led by three runs, but the Hexham team batted through and booked their place in the regional finals on April 26.

The team finished second in Group 2 after tying with Ponteland High, who enjoyed a better nett rate of 12 runs.

The runners-up spot drew them together with their schoolmates at QEHS B, as they were winners of Group 1 as they finished ahead of John Spence.

The A team enjoyed bragging rights to set up a final with John Spence, who chased down Ponteland’s score of 100 with just three balls remaining.