U15 Scorchers v Finchampstead Under 15 Eagles

Scorchers Fall Just Short in Tight T20 Contest at Finchampstead

Sonning U15 Scorchers were left to rue a middle-order collapse as they fell six runs short of Finchampstead's total of 159-4 in the BYCL Under 15 T20 Blast at Finchampstead Park on 20th August. Despite a superb 40 from opener Kishan Akula and a spirited late cameo from Rish Bajpai, the Scorchers finished on 153-6, handing the hosts a hard-fought victory.

Finchampstead captain Troy Navetta won the toss and chose to bat, a decision vindicated by opener Rohit Kanagavel, who anchored the innings with an accomplished 50 from 44 balls, striking seven fours before retiring not out. Kanagavel was the constant presence throughout, sharing a 42-run opening stand with Ciaran Brogan before putting on 57 with Aaron Gatha for the third wicket — the most productive partnership of the innings.

Reyansh Setia was the pick of the Sonning bowling attack, returning figures of 2-13 from his four overs without conceding a single wide or no ball. He removed both Brogan (12) and Monty Dhanjal (6) to briefly check Finchampstead's progress. Idris Malik chipped in with the wicket of Gatha, trapped lbw for 18, while Tom Wolfenden effected a sharp run out to dismiss Robert Gent for 18. However, 43 extras — including 24 wides — bolstered the home side's total considerably, with Rish Bajpai's two overs proving particularly costly at 24 runs including nine wides and four no balls.

In reply, the Scorchers made a confident start as Akula and captain Kanishka Suriarachchi compiled an opening partnership of 56. Suriarachchi contributed 12 from 24 balls before falling caught behind by Monty Dhanjal off Shiraz Khokhar, but the platform had been laid. Arnav Duvvuri then joined Akula and the pair added a further 54 for the second wicket, keeping Sonning well in the hunt at 110-2.

Duvvuri's departure for an attractive 22 off 23 balls, caught by Aaron Gatha off Navetta, triggered a dramatic shift in momentum. Akula followed almost immediately for 40, bowled by Navetta, and when Charlie Koslicki was dismissed first ball — also by Navetta — the Scorchers had lurched from 110-2 to 113-4 in the space of just three runs. Navetta's spell of 3-13 from four overs proved the decisive intervention of the match.

Tom Wolfenden struck three fours in a rapid 16 off eight balls to keep Sonning's hopes alive, but his dismissal at 132-6, bowled by Kanagavel, left too much to do. Bajpai remained unbeaten on 14 from 10 balls, finding the boundary twice, but with Neel Kumar unable to score from his four deliveries, the required rate climbed beyond reach. Finchampstead themselves were generous with extras, conceding 46 including 29 wides, which kept the scoreboard ticking but ultimately could not bridge the gap.

The Scorchers will take heart from the quality of their top-order batting and Setia's excellent bowling figures, though the concentration of wickets in the middle overs — four falling for just 22 runs — proved the difference between the two sides on the night.