U11 Scorchers v Goring Under 11

Scorchers Fall Short as Goring Claim Victory at The Oratory School

Sonning U11 Scorchers travelled to The Oratory School for their U11 League Pool 3 fixture against Goring on 11th May, and despite a spirited bowling display, were unable to chase down a modest target, going down to defeat after being bowled out for 53 in reply to Goring's 91 all out.

Captain Ridith Kandadi won the toss and chose to field first, a decision that initially appeared astute as the Scorchers' bowlers made early inroads. Jonathan Turner struck first, trapping Goring captain Conrad Ronksley lbw for 4, before Chloe Dawes produced an excellent spell of 2-7 from her two overs, including a maiden, dismissing an opposition batter who was well caught by Zain Baloch. Dawes was also instrumental in the field, effecting the run out of Isaac Bergvall for a duck to leave Goring struggling at 23 for 3.

Zain Baloch then got in on the act with the ball, clean bowling Innes McVie for 7, and Alexander Hatchett-Walker demonstrated sharp fielding to run out Autumn Tier, reducing Goring to 37 for 5. At this stage, the Scorchers appeared firmly in control of proceedings.

However, Aadi Kulkarni anchored the Goring innings with a composed knock of 20 not out from 25 balls, striking two boundaries. He found a willing partner in Edward Williams, and the pair combined for a crucial sixth-wicket stand of 32 runs — the most significant partnership of the innings — which dragged Goring back into the contest and pushed the total beyond 60. Williams contributed 10 runs, including two fours, before falling bowled by Ved Patwa.

Patwa emerged as the Scorchers' most prolific wicket-taker, claiming four wickets in his two overs, dismissing Williams, Felix Boyd, Edward Jarvis and Toby Smith to clean up the tail. His figures of 4-16, though somewhat expensive with five wides and four no-balls, were decisive in ensuring Goring were bowled out for 91 in 18 overs. Musa Meer was the most economical of the Sonning attack, conceding just three runs from his two overs.

The Scorchers' reply never truly gained momentum. Alexander Hatchett-Walker offered a brief flourish at the top of the order, striking a boundary in his brisk 6 from 5 balls before being stumped by Kulkarni off Felix Boyd. Zain Baloch followed cheaply, caught by Williams off Boyd for 1, and when Musa Meer was bowled by Edward Jarvis for 1, the Scorchers had slumped to 20 for 3. Lewis Towner top-scored with 5, hitting one four, but Goring captain Conrad Ronksley sealed the result with a devastating spell of 3-2 from 1.3 overs, bowling Chloe Dawes and Ridith Kandadi and catching Arthur Teed to wrap up the Sonning innings at 53 all out in just 13.3 overs.

Extras proved a telling factor for both sides — 35 in Goring's innings and 33 in the Scorchers' — but it was the inability of the Sonning batters to build any meaningful partnerships that ultimately proved the difference. No Scorchers batter reached double figures, and only Hatchett-Walker and Towner managed to find the boundary. Goring's varied bowling attack, with seven bowlers used, kept the pressure on throughout, with Edward Williams particularly miserly, conceding just one run from two overs including a maiden.