Brave Bears enjoy Germany success.

Byline: Alan Poole

COVENTRY Bears' first-ever European tour proved a major success as they returned from Germany boasting four victories from six matches.

Despite a marathon journey - they left Coventry at 3am on Sunday to tackle a six-hour ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and a seven-hour coach trip to Hamburg - they lined up for two matches on Monday.

The Under-17s notched 231-3 in their 40 overs against Hamburg's senior first team, opener Sagar Adi hitting 33 before Under-15 duo Sam Lucas (83no) and Steven Abbey (51) shared a third-wicket partnership of 148, but their hosts cruised home at 232-2, a superb 135 from Aman Schamps backed up by Mohammed Kashif's 37.

The Under-19s overcame their German national equivalents by three wickets after spin twins Callum Hayward (4-42) and Marco Higgins (2-22) had bowled out the home side for 166, a hardhitting 77-run stand between Yannick Jacob (44) and Jaskarran Toor (27) proving the sternest resistance. The Bears lost Aaron Lewis and Higgins cheaply but Lee Hopkins (66), Jamie Phillips (27), Adam Hill (17) and Liam Windridge (14) guided them to 168-7 off 28.2 overs.

On Tuesday Coventry's Under-17s bowled out the German Under-19s for just 54, seamers Tom Yardley (4-11) and Dushyant Bhagat (1-13) setting the stage for a fine 3-10 spell by off spinner Leigh Oxley. Sam Charnley went for a duck, but Matthew Tidmarsh (30no) and Joe Conneely (10no) whisked them to 57-2 off 11.4 overs.

The Under-19s faced a far harder task against Germany Under-23s who posted a challenging 234-4, Suleman Samudeen (62no) maintaining the momentum of an 82-run alliance by openers Tarun Tariq (48) and Sat Nadeem (64).

Coventry responded with a 113-run assault by Aaron Lewis (67) and Marco Higgins (65), and Lee Hopkins (77) helped take the total to 226 before he and Lewis spell in the space of an over. That left Coventry needing three off the final over and Adam Hill shrugged off any nerves to drive the first ball for four.

On Wednesday the Under-17s skittled Germany's Under-23s for 93 in 29.5 overs, Niall Buswell (4-22) and Tom Yardley (3-8) proving an irresistible combination.

Matthew Tidmarsh (49no) and Sagar Adi (28) made light work of that total, Sam Lucas chipped in with an unbeaten 14 as they wrapped up a ninewicket verdict in 12.3 overs. The Under-19s faced the toughest task of all when they played Germany's senior first team. Again bowling first, they got off to an inspired start when a magnificent slip catch by Zenroy Lee-Bourne put paid to Mohammad Shahid but Ibby Shammas (73) and Jit Tarun (69) showed their class with a stand of 103 and despite some well-sustained bowling by Joe McDermott (3-20) and Vijay Patel (2-25) the home side reached 257-9. Hopes of victory dipped when Higgins was bowled for a duck by a ball that kept low and a similar delivery accounted for Lewis for 26. Lee Hopkins (24), Jamie Phillips (46), Minesh Patel (35) and Vivin Shah (23) all took the fight but the Bears were all out for 214 in the 39th over.

CAPTION(S):

BUILDING BRIDGES... Coventry skipper Marco Higgins is presented with a pennant from the German national side captain Mohammad Abid. HITTING OUT... Jamie Phillips cuts a boundary on his way to a fine 46 against the German national side. Lee-Bourne, Sam Charnley, Vivin Shah, Leigh Oxley. Players not available for photo shoot: Callum Hayward, Sam Lucas, Jason Fox and Dushyant Bhagat.