U11 Scorchers v Sonning CC U11 Sabres

Scorchers Fall Short as Sabres Chase Down Target in Intra-Club Friendly

Sonning U11 Scorchers were edged out by their club-mates the U11 Sabres in an entertaining pairs format friendly at King George's Field on 31 May 2026. The Sabres, having won the toss and elected to field, successfully chased down the Scorchers' total of 158, finishing on 179 from their 20 overs despite losing 11 wickets along the way.

Batting first, the Scorchers were anchored by a superb knock from captain Zain Baloch, who top-scored with 29 off just 16 balls, lacing five fours in an innings that provided the backbone of his side's total. Alexander Hatchett-Walker offered excellent support with a fluent 27 from 16 deliveries, striking four boundaries, while Jasper H contributed a brisk 16 off 11 balls at the top of the order.

Musa Meer played a composed hand for 15 off 13 balls, including two fours, and Alexander Green added a useful 14 from eight balls late in the innings. Monish Karthik Saimpu chipped in with 13 off eight deliveries. For the Sabres' bowling attack, Inara Ahmed was the standout performer, returning remarkable figures of 2-3 from three overs with two maidens — a spell of outstanding control. Jonathan Turner also impressed with 2-9 from his two overs.

The Sabres' reply was bolstered significantly by extras, with 55 runs coming without the bat — including 29 wides and 12 no-balls — which proved a decisive factor in the outcome. The Scorchers' bowlers struggled for consistency at times, handing the opposition nearly a third of their total through extras alone.

Ishaan X led the Sabres' batting with 21 off 14 balls, while Arthur Teed and Lewis Towner each made 19. Captain Niko Jordinson struck two fours in his 13 off 10 balls, and Jacob G added 14 from 15 deliveries. The runs were spread across the batting order, with contributions from Jonathan Turner (13) and Haaniyah Ahmed (10) ensuring the target was overhauled comfortably.

With the ball, the Scorchers found some joy through Monish Karthik Saimpu, whose tidy two overs yielded 2-6, while Viaan Choudermet picked up 2-15 from three overs, including a maiden. Isabella Partridge also claimed a wicket with her two overs. However, the damage done by extras meant the opposition always had enough breathing room.

The match highlighted both the promising batting talent within the Scorchers' ranks — Baloch and Hatchett-Walker in particular showing real intent — and the need to tighten up the bowling discipline. With 55 extras conceded in the second innings compared to just eight given away by the Sabres' attack, the gap between the two totals was largely explained by accuracy rather than quality of strokeplay.