Ayrshire cricket pair to represent Scotland under-15s

Prestwick Cricket Club pair Sophie Harrison and Freya Mavin have both been selected as part of the country's under-15s side.

They are set to travel to King's College in Taunton later this week to compete in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Europe Under-15s Festival.

Between Monday, July 13, and Friday, July 17, they will contest two twenty-over matches against fellow national teams from Guernsey and Jersey.

It will be a milestone moment for the duo, who both feature for Prestwick's under-14s team and the Ayrshire under-16s side.

Earning a national call has been the culmination of years of practice for the pair.

Sophie, from Kilwinning, started out her journey in the sport aged seven at her local club in Irvine before moving to Prestwick - the only Ayrshire club with a women's team.

Meanwhile, Freya, of Kilmaurs, first took up the sport in Kilmarnock before joining Prestwick.

To earn their Scotland selection, both have progressed through various stages where their talents have been identified.

Having attended training camps to help their progress, both earned spots in the west of Scotland regional team.

Having played against fellow Scottish area teams, Sophie and Freya were called into Scotland training camps last winter.

They earned their first caps in a match against a national select side last week - both picking up their debut Scotland wickets in the process.

Following the tournament, they will also get to represent their nation at 'home' as Prestwick Cricket Club hosts the Scottish under-15s side on Wednesday, July 22, for twenty-over clashes with Lancashire (start time 11am).

Sophie's dad, John, hopes that the girls' journeys can help inspire others to pick up the sport.

He said: “She’s put in a lot of hard work. It’s like any kid, if they love a sport then they just go for it. The full family are so proud.

“Some kids aren’t football or rugby players, but they can excel in something like this, which isn’t quite as out there.”