Berkshire Cricket Foundation

U18 Retain U18 T20 Title

Last Sunday our U18’s travelled to Kibworth CC looking to defend their T20 national title they won 12 months earlier.

On a blisteringly hot day our semi final opponents were Staffordshire who we’d beaten at the same stage last year. A one sided game ensued with our opponents winning the toss and batting but being bundled out in just 16 overs for 84. The left arm spin duo of captain John Child (3-13) and Humza Ishaq (3-8) did the majority of the damage on a wicket offering significant turn and bounce. In reply the total was chased without alarm in the 13th over with Murad Khan (39) and Jayden Barson (30) seeing us comfortably into the final.

As comprehensive as the semi final was, the final will go down as one of the greatest comebacks in Berkshire history. Batting first on this occasion we made a workmanlike 141 on a pitch still offering assistance. Runs on the board in the final made the score more than respectable but in truth we were 20-30 runs light of a score that makes you comfortable. Andrew MacEwen made 38 and a brace of 20’s once again from Jayden and Murad got us to where we were.

In the chase, the game was all but lost when at 14 overs Devon had cruised to 118-3 with still 6 overs remaining, requiring just 24 off 36 balls with 7 wickets in hand. The run out of Linnitt (73) sparked an incredible collapse which saw our opponents lose their last 7 wickets for just 21 runs in 33 balls crowning us champions once again and ending a quite remarkable game of cricket. Connor Lamsdale (3-14) and John Child (2-21) bowled the overs In that collapse to take us to victory.

Many congratulations to our lads on retaining the U18 national T20 crown.