U15 Scorchers v Finchampstead Under 15 Eagles

Durrant's Four-Wicket Masterclass Guides U15 Scorchers to Narrow Victory

Sonning U15 Scorchers posted 108 for 6 from their 20 overs before bowling out Finchampstead for 106 with two balls remaining, securing a tense two-run victory in the BYCL Under 15 T20 Blast West fixture on 4th June.

After Finchampstead won the toss and elected to field, Sonning's openers Harrison Lott and Aveer Sidhu provided a solid platform with a 42-run opening partnership. Lott struck two fours in his 15 from 30 balls before being caught by Benjamin Mastromarino off the bowling of Robert Gent. Sidhu continued to accumulate, top-scoring with 21 from 29 deliveries before being bowled by Ansh Tanguturi with the score on 58.

Captain Max Murphy kept the momentum going with a brisk 16 off 23 balls, including three boundaries, and shared a useful 22-run stand with Edward Hanson for the fourth wicket. However, when Murphy fell bowled by Gent with the score on 83, Sonning's innings threatened to stall. Ollie Terry steadied things with an unbeaten 11, while Kishan Akula's quickfire 9 off 8 balls helped push the total past the hundred mark. A total of 26 extras, including 14 wides, proved significant in bolstering the Scorchers' score.

Gent was the pick of the Finchampstead bowlers, returning figures of 2 for 14 from his three overs, while Liam Amy was economical with 1 for 9 from three. Charlie Lewis took 1 for 20 but was wayward, conceding six wides and a no-ball.

Jack Durrant then produced a match-winning spell with the ball, ripping through the Finchampstead top order with devastating figures of 4 for 5 from three overs, including a maiden. He had Isaac Neville caught by Sidhu for 1 and Finn Borkowski caught by Lott for 5, before bowling Lucas Neville for a golden duck and captain Liam Amy for nought in quick succession. Finchampstead slumped to 18 for 5 and appeared to be heading for a heavy defeat.

Ansh Tanguturi and Zac Baldwin mounted a spirited recovery, adding 33 for the sixth wicket. Tanguturi struck three fours in an aggressive 17 from 19 balls before being run out, while Baldwin anchored the innings with a patient 14 from 29 deliveries. When Baldwin fell bowled by Sidhu at 55 for 7, Finchampstead still needed 54 from the remaining overs with only three wickets in hand.

Robert Gent (13 off 14 balls) and Benjamin Mastromarino (7 off 6) added 19 for the eighth wicket to keep Finchampstead's hopes alive, but Ollie Terry bowled Mastromarino and Oscar Zaum had Gent caught by Murphy to leave the visitors 82 for 9. The last-wicket pair of Troy Navetta and Charlie Lewis refused to go quietly, putting on 24 runs to bring the target within touching distance. Lewis struck two fours in his unbeaten 12, but Sidhu held his nerve to bowl Navetta for 9, ending the Finchampstead innings on 106 all out with two balls to spare and giving the Scorchers a hard-fought two-run win.