U11 Scorchers v Steventon Under 11

Scorchers Denied Victory as Steventon Snatch Dramatic Tie at the Death

Sonning U11 Scorchers were left to rue a tense finish at Steventon Village Green as the hosts somehow managed to draw level on 123 apiece in this U11 Hundred Pool 2 fixture, despite losing nine wickets in their reply.

Steventon won the toss and inserted the Scorchers, who endured a shaky start when Jacob Garner was caught by Ethan Langridge off Ollie Watson's bowling with just six runs on the board. Musa Meer steadied things immediately, counter-attacking with three fours in a brisk 17 from 13 balls before being run out by Oshie Keymer. His partnership of 37 with Alexander Hatchett-Walker for the second wicket was the platform the Scorchers needed. Hatchett-Walker batted with composure throughout his stay, striking five fours in an unbeaten 25 from 25 balls before retiring.

The middle order wobbled briefly — Alexander Green departed for a golden duck, caught by Eli Newman off Alex Embrey, and Arthur Teed managed only one before being bowled by Harvey Webb — but Zain Baloch rescued the innings emphatically. Baloch was the standout performer with the bat, smashing seven fours in an excellent 32 from 25 balls before retiring not out. Captain Svarup Huggi contributed a steady 12, and the Scorchers posted a competitive 123 for 4, boosted by 35 extras. Hugo Snuggs was the pick of the Steventon bowlers, conceding just two runs from his ten balls with six dot balls.

In reply, the Scorchers struck early as Elijah Patterson bowled Adithya Satram for one and then clean-bowled Ethan Langridge for a duck, leaving Steventon 20 for 2. However, opener Oshie Keymer was in imperious form, blazing six fours in a top-score of 33 from 25 balls before retiring. Captain Hugo Snuggs joined the fray and added a crucial 48 for the third wicket with Oliver Nicholson, striking three fours in his 19 before being bowled by Hatchett-Walker.

The Scorchers then applied the squeeze superbly. Musa Meer bowled Eli Newman for nought, and Huggi removed Harvey Webb to leave Steventon 87 for 5. Jacob Garner produced sharp fielding to run out Nicholson for 11, and at 87 for 6 the game appeared firmly in Sonning's grasp. Meer and Hatchett-Walker were particularly economical with the ball — Meer returning figures of 2 for 10 from 15 balls, while Hatchett-Walker took 1 for 13 from his 15 balls with nine dot balls.

Yet Steventon refused to capitulate. Ollie Watson struck two fours in a counter-attacking 12 from 13 balls, and Vansh Manwani chipped in with 6 before being run out. Even after Watson's departure at 102 for 7, the lower order kept nibbling away at the target. Alex Embrey struck two boundaries in a quickfire 9 from 9 balls, dragging the scores level before Meer had the final say, bowling him to claim the ninth wicket — but with the scores tied on 123.

It was a result that will frustrate the Scorchers, whose disciplined bowling attack claimed nine wickets yet could not quite close out the match. Both sides collected three league points from an encounter that delivered outstanding cricket from youngsters on both sides, with Baloch's innings and Patterson's early burst particularly memorable contributions from the Sonning perspective.