U13 Scorchers v Emmbrook & Bearwood Under 13 Bears

Scorchers Fall Short Despite Sivaram and Dollinger Fireworks at Knowl Hill

Sonning U13 Scorchers posted a competitive 152 all out against Emmbrook & Bearwood in the BYCL Under 13 Blast North West at Knowl Hill on 26 July, but a devastating innings from opposition captain Oscar Earl proved the difference as the visitors chased down the target with just one ball to spare, winning by four wickets.

Having been inserted after losing the toss, the Scorchers endured an early setback when Charlie Bright was run out for 1 with the score on just 6. Finley Andrews steadied things initially, putting on 35 for the second wicket with Jamie Dollinger before falling bowled by Isabel Smy for 7. It was from that point that the Sonning innings truly ignited.

Dollinger and Saurav Sivaram combined for the partnership of the match, adding 81 runs for the third wicket in a breathtaking display of attacking batting. Sivaram was the more aggressive of the pair, hammering five fours and a six in his 38 from 27 balls, while Dollinger struck three fours and a six in a fluent 35 off 26 deliveries. Between them, they transformed the Scorchers' position from a precarious 41-2 to a commanding 122-3, taking the Emmbrook & Bearwood bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Henry Bright contributed a useful 10 before being bowled by Aryav Gupta, but the Scorchers lost their way in the closing overs. Four run outs in the innings — including the dismissals of Sivaram, Elijah Patel, and Henry Verrier Jones — proved costly as the home side lost their last seven wickets for just 30 runs. Arjun Ravi was the pick of the opposition bowlers, claiming 2-16 from his 2.5 overs, while Sammy Rao and Oscar Earl each took a wicket apiece.

The Emmbrook & Bearwood reply wobbled early when Daniel Moseley bowled Aryav Gupta for a duck with the score on 9. But Earl, batting at number two, seized control in spectacular fashion. The opposition skipper blazed five sixes and three fours in a stunning 48 from just 25 balls, putting on 65 for the second wicket with Arjun Ravi, who added 16 of his own. Earl's assault was particularly savage, and by the time he retired not out on 48, Emmbrook & Bearwood were well on course.

Captain Namit Desai was the standout performer with the ball for the Scorchers, returning the excellent figures of 3-1-7-1, including a maiden over — a fine spell of control in an otherwise difficult period. Charlie Bright also impressed, picking up 2-6 from his two overs to dismiss Prabhav Ganti and Ewan Dawkes in quick succession, briefly raising Sonning hopes at 101-4. Saurav Sivaram bowled tidily without reward, conceding just 11 from his 2.5 overs.

Monty Humphrey, however, anchored the middle order with a composed 24 from 25 balls, sharing a crucial 36-run fifth-wicket stand with Ben Keep (13). Even after Keep fell bowled by Desai and Aarohan Mitra was run out, the visitors never lost their nerve. Sammy Rao struck a boundary to move the score to 154-6 off 19.5 overs, sealing victory by four wickets with a single delivery remaining in a match that had promised so much for the Scorchers after their superb middle-order batting display.