A TALENTED young cricketer bowled over his foreign counterparts as he helped guide two youth sides to tournament success in Dubai.
Andrew Scott, 14, from Longhoughton, played a pivotal role in leading U14 and U17 sides to Nissan Gulf Cup glory.
The young cricket prodigy, who plays for Alnwick and Northumberland County U14s, was invited to play in the Asian tournament in Dece
mber by United Arab Emirates star Rameez Shahzad. Shahzad, 19, had spent last season at Alnwick Cricket Club.
And Scott made his mark with bat and ball during his 16-day stint in Dubai.
Hitting a defiant 23 in his very first match for the U14s, the Alnwick ace went on to take figures of 1-25 off 5 overs in the U14s final, helping his side, Everest Sports, complete an eight wicket win over DPS Young Talent.
Scott then completed his double, by helping his side, this time DPS Young Talent U17s, to Nissan Gulf Cup victory, culminating in a six wicket win over Durham County Cricket Club.
Both the U14 and U17 sides were undefeated on the way to tournament victory and Scott impressed so much that he has been invited back to play next year.
The cricket whizz also had the added thrill of playing at the Sheik Zayed cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Holding 20,000 people, Scott described the venue as "fantastic", having "brilliant changing rooms and facilities" and although the stadium was never full, he admitted that the crowds which came to the respective finals were the biggest that he has played in front.
He said: "The whole experience was amazing. It was awesome.
"The standard of cricket was high and the quality of the wickets was good.
"I learnt a lot over there, learning different skills and ways of playing cricket."
In fact, Scott impressed so much, he was asked to play again next year.
But the plucky 14-year-old's adventure went further than cricket. Scott, who was 13 at the time, travelled out to Dubai on his own, flying with Fly Emirates as an unaccompanied minor.
He also celebrated his 14th birthday out in Dubai. Scott, who stayed with Shahzad in his apartment in Sharjah just outside Dubai, said: "As a surprise Rameez's mum baked me a huge black and white birthday cake with Happy Birthday Scotty on it. It was delicious.
"I also got a pair of batting pads and gloves."
And, while many of us were caught up in the hustle and bustle of seasonal shopping on Christmas Eve in England, Scott was busy jet skiing in Dubai. Then on December 25, Scott was experiencing an unusual Christmas Day, as he went on a desert safari. He flew home on Boxing Day.
Scott said: "I would love to go back out again as the people were so brilliant and friendly especially Rameez and his family.
"I would also like to thank Alnwick Cricket Club for their role in getting me out there and the Duchess Community High School for allowing me time off school.
"It was a brilliant experience."
