A POLICE XI took to the cricket field to prove they are far from stumped when it comes to helping troubled teens.

The annual match at Canons High School in Shaldon Road, Edgware, on Thursday last week, pitted a team made up of officers from safer neighbourhood teams against children at risk of falling into youth crime.

The Canons Cricket Academy was set up by Harrow Police and the sports development team at Harrow Council in 2006 after a survey showed children wanted more to do in the holidays.

Since then children between 13 and 18 have attended the academy for coaching sessions and matches throughout the Easter and summer breaks.

The match was the third annual game between the two but it is set to be rescheduled for September because rain stopped play.

The police team scored 110 in their 20 overs but rain brought proceedings to an end with the teens on 30 for 0 after four overs.

Although the teens had nothing to cheer about on the day the academy was celebrating a different kind of success, as one of the boys was called up to train with the Pakistan under-19s side.