Our new Year 11 boys cricket team played their way into the County Cup Final this term playing some outstanding matches and thoroughly deserving their trip to Bradfield College on Tuesday 15th June. The squad selected are shown below.
The cup run started at home to Licensed Victuallers’ School (Ascot) back on 5th May followed by another tight match against Windsor Boys School (Windsor) on 25th May. More recently in the quarter final Slough & Eton hosted Brackenhale (Bracknell) on 10th June. Our guests elected to bat first hitting just 48 runs before being bowled out. Including some outstanding bowling from Syed Kazmi who clean bowled 4 and trapped a 5th LBW. Great wicket keeping from Ayrton Ferreria kept Brackenhale on their toes. With rain clouds looming Amman Uddin and Sultan Bhatti took to the crease chasing down 49 to win. Hitting 7 boundaries and running quick singles our openers reached the target within 5 overs.
That win booked a place in the semi finals against local rivals Herschel Grammar School (Slough) on 14th June. Having made the short journey across town we were put into bat and as openers Jawad Ifraz and Sultan Bhatti settled into a fine rhythm slowly the run rate crept up. It wasn’t until the 18th of 20 overs that Sultan fell at 62 (including six 4s and two 6s) chasing big hits with time running out. Jawad was briefly joined by Amman Uddin (3), Ismaheal Mahmood (1), Syed Kazmi (10) and Ayrton Ferreria (0 not out) as each batsman tried to slog the last 10 balls of our innings. A target for Herschel of 155 to win.
In reply Herschel started at a phenomenal rate with 55 from the first 6 overs it was going to be tight. However, the vital wickets came as Humzah Iqbal bowled one of their openers and in the ninth over Syed Kazmi took the wicket of Kuran one of our hosts danger men. As our bowling became tighter and tighter Herschel were forced to really chase the game and mistake inevitably followed. Amman Uddin took a brace as did Syed and Ismaheal a further three wickets. With 4 balls remaining of the last over Herschel were all out. A place in the final was booked.
The new Year 11 team excitedly jumped on the minibus to Bradfield College on Tuesday 15th June to face the hosting school in the final of the Berkshire Schools County Cup 2010. Having spent some time taking in the fantastic venue and enjoying the use of the practice nets Amman Uddin won the toss and put Bradfield into bat. It quickly became clear that Bradfield were in the final for a reason, being the current County champions this came as little surprise. Aqib Aslam made the first break through as Jawad Ifraz made the first of two excellent catches on the day in the 4th over leaving Bradfield slightly nervous at 17-1. Syed Kazmi trapped another LBW at 57-2, Jawad caught another from Sultan Bhatti’s bowling 69-3. It wasn’t until the 16th over that Amman took his first wicket clean bowling their number 3, 139-4, Amman then took his second wicket, again clean bowled, in the last over 161-5. Bradfield finished on 168.
An inspirational team talk from captain Amman lifted the boys who knew it was going to be incredibly tough to chase down such a huge target with the impressive pitch having extremely long boundaries.
In reply Jawad was quickly run out in the second over , Sultan was caught in the 4th and Amman joined them unluckily missing his shot and the ball hitting his trailing foot which was protecting his wicket, 21-3. Ismaheal made it until the 9th over before being caught, Ayrton was clean bowled and top batsman Syed (21) fell in the 12th over having hesitated he was run out, 65-6. Imran was then bowled out as too was Humzah and Aqib caught. Our last hope was Zeeshan Ali who made a few runs before casually jogging back down the crease only for a direct hit from the outstanding Bradfield fielding to run him out the game was over all, out for 70 runs.
The boys collected their runners up medals and paid their respects to the worthy winners. A fine achievement for the Slough & Eton team who came so close to breaking the strangle hold of private schools over the County Cup.
Mr Leane
Head of Sport
PE useful Links
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