U13 Sharks v Kidmore End Under 13 Kites

Izaan Baloch's Brilliant 30 Anchors U13 Sharks to Comfortable Victory Over Kidmore End

Sonning U13 Sharks posted 155 for 8 from their 20 overs before restricting Kidmore End to 97 for 6 at Knowl Hill, securing a convincing win in the BYCL Under 13 Challenge (Tier 1) North West league fixture on 31 May.

Kidmore End captain Jack Geleta won the toss and inserted Sonning, a decision that initially looked astute as the Sharks stumbled to 25 for 3. Jude Alden was run out without facing a ball thanks to sharp work from wicketkeeper Kairav Pandya, while Siddarth Goteti proved the most effective of the Kidmore End bowlers, removing both Archie Jansen (5) and Aarib Ansari (3) in an excellent spell of 3-0-7-2.

The match turned decisively when Izaan Baloch strode to the crease at number five. Baloch played with authority from the outset, striking seven fours in an outstanding innings of 30 from just 24 balls. His partnership of 22 with Advay Sood (11, including two fours) steadied the innings, but it was the fifth-wicket stand of 50 with skipper Anay Patel that truly shifted the momentum. Patel contributed a patient 8 from 19 balls before falling bowled to Shourya Sable, but by then the platform was firmly established.

Baloch retired not out with the score well advanced, and Tavish Malik provided a late cameo of 8 from just three deliveries, cracking two boundaries before Leonardo Darrell bowled him. Leo Ribbens added a useful 8 lower down, and a 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Ribbens and Yuvaansh Sharma helped push the total past 150. Kidmore End's discipline wavered significantly, conceding 80 extras — 46 in wides and 28 in no-balls — which inflated the Sonning total considerably.

In reply, Kidmore End never looked likely to threaten the target. Siddarth Goteti fell early, run out for 1 with the score on 11, and when Izaan Baloch struck with the ball to remove Avi Karn for 2, the visitors were 16 for 2. Shourya Sable showed some fight, hitting a six and a four in his 12 before being caught by Ribbens off the bowling of Aarib Ansari, who delivered an impressive spell of 2-1-5-1, including a maiden over.

Miles Butt (6 from 26 balls) and Kiaan Jaadav (9 from 39 balls) both retired not out but struggled to score freely against disciplined Sonning bowling. Leo Ribbens claimed the wicket of Kairav Pandya (4) and was also involved in the run out of Percy King, demonstrating excellent all-round fielding. Muhammad Jalaluddin Usman wrapped up the resistance by trapping Marek Warren lbw for a duck, leaving Kidmore End well short on 97 for 6 when the overs expired.

Sonning's bowling attack shared the wickets effectively, with Baloch (2-0-3-1), Ansari (2-1-5-1), Ribbens (2-0-5-1), and Usman (2-0-10-1) all contributing. Captain Anay Patel was particularly economical with figures of 2-0-3-0, while Tavish Malik conceded just 4 runs from his two overs. The Sharks' own extras tally of 58 in the second innings showed both sides struggled with consistency, but the 58-run winning margin underlined Sonning's superiority across the contest.

The result gives the U13 Sharks a full 20 league points, with Baloch's match-defining all-round contribution — 30 not out with the bat and 1 for 3 with the ball — standing as the clear individual highlight of the afternoon.