Junior cricket kicked off this season with a bang! Silkesh Deuchande and Paulo Buccimazza orchestrated an exhilarating interschool tournament in Odivelas, featuring ten teams — four under-18 and six under-15 — bringing together 80 promising young cricketers. The participating teams hailed from:

• EB 2/3 Carlos Parede in Odivelas
• EB 2/3 Alexandre Herculano in Santarém
• Agrupamento de Escolas do Fundão
• St. Julian's International School in Carcavelos
• Oporto British School in Porto

The tournament produced thrilling matches and unveiled hidden talents ready to be nurtured through additional coaching. It was particularly noteworthy that some of the older players had already joined local league clubs in Division II, providing them an excellent platform to further hone their skills.

Organizing a successful tournament for 80 children is no small feat, and the event's success speaks volumes about the dedication of everyone involved.

Dignitaries graced the finals with their presence, including Susana Santos, the Councillor in charge of Education for Odivelas, who assisted in the prize-giving ceremony. She was joined by Rogério Breia, President of the Joint Council of Póvoa de Santo Adrião e Olival Basto, along with representatives from the Portuguese Cricket Federation.

On April 27th, another exciting triangular under-15 tournament took place at St. Julian's International School, involving 40 students from Odivelas, EB Alexandre Herculano (Santarém), and St. Julian's International School. Among them was a talented female cricketer, who celebrated her first wicket in competitive cricket.

May 18th saw yet another under-15 tournament at St. Julian's International School, featuring teams from St. Julian's and Odivelas, where three thrilling 8-over, 8-a-side games ensured everyone got a chance to shine.

On May 24th, an under-15 team from Odivelas traveled to the Oporto Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club for a T10 tournament against the Oporto British School, showcasing some excellent cricketing skills.

The season wrapped up on a high note with under-19 T20 games on May 30th and July 3rd, between EB 2/3 Alexandre Herculano from Santarém and EB 2/3 Carlos Parede from Odivelas at the Santarém Cricket Ground.

This season has revealed a wealth of hidden cricketing talent among the youth. While Odivelas and Santarém have dominated the under-19 and under-15 categories, respectively, the development of cricket in Fundão has been remarkable, with St. Julian's and Oporto International School holding their own in all competitions so far.

As we look forward to the new school year, there is great anticipation for the continued growth of junior cricket in Portugal. We hope to see teams from the Algarve join the action in the coming season, further enriching the vibrant junior cricket scene.