ODIHAM and Greywell’s teenage cricket star Henry Schooling was part of the victorious Hampshire Disability D40 Hardball team which lifted the national crown.

Middle order batsman Schooling helped his home county to a three wicket win over Shropshire at Wolverhampton.

It completed a perfect season for Hampshire, who had been unbeaten in the South Group and then beat Lancashire in the semi-finals. In this game the 16-year-old scored 29 not out and shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 88 with William Flynn which saw them win by eight wickets.

In the final, Schooling was in the thick of the action as Shropshire were all out for 113 and he ran out the last batsman.

Hampshire’s reply then did not go to play as they lost three early wickets and 113 suddenly started to look like a good total.

Schooling, who has learning difficulties, was promoted up the order to number four. He was determined not to surrender his wicket and the fourth pair steadied the ship taking the score to 46-4.

Schooling said: “It was a great feeling to win as last year we lost in the final after a bowl out when the game was abandoned."

The former Vyne School who will be studying at Queen Mary’s College added: “I was moved up the order and had lost some early wickets. So we just dug in and when I was out we were nearly half way to the total. The rest of the team then managed to get us over the line.”

Schooling, is the son of Odiham second team skipper Liam and having had a season with the team he wants to push on and play for the first XI next summer.