Taylorian 2020

97 our catches; Sachin Patel took 2-17 in his 4 overs, and Samir Sardana 3-20 in his. Tonbridge were 114-6 off seventeen overs, at which point our opening bowlers Rohan and Max John returned in what turned out to be a crucial three overs. Just 11 runs were conceded and three wickets fell. We were delighted to have restricted Tonbridge to 125-9; little did we know what drama lay ahead. Our innings started in the worst possible way, losing both openers in the first 2 balls. After ten overs we were 45-4, and all the momentum was with Tonbridge. Jack Leathem did his best to keep us in the game, but the required run rate crept up to nearly 10 an over. 38 needed off 24 balls, then 32 off 18, then 22 off 12. We were clinging on but in the 19th over we lost Aman Sandhu, who had been supporting Leathem well. And so to the extraordinary final over, with the score on 114-7: 12 runs needed to win, 11 to tie. I’ll fast forward to the 6th ball of the over needing one to tie: Leathem hits the ball hard to mid-off’s left hand and sets off for a run. Mid-off picks up the ball and throws it at the stumps at the bowler’s end. He misses. The run is completed and the scores finish level. We win, having lost 8 wickets to Tonbridge’s 9. Jack had scored 56 not out off 38 balls, a magnificent match-winning innings. We qualified as South of England Champions for the National Finals at Arundel. Although the result didn’t go our way against the eventual winners Malvern College, it is fair to say this side can have no regrets from their season. Their goal was to leave a legacy for the younger players in the school. Boy, did they do that! Mr I McGowan Squad: S. Sardana, R. Day, D. Burnell, R. Randev, J. Leathem, M. John, T. Steene, A. Sandhu, J. Baxter, S. Patel, S. Shah, A. Chavan, A. Shah, O. Gilbert. 2 nd XI The 2nd XI continued to dominate opponents during the second half of the 2019 season, despite inevitable disruption due to public exams. In general, we were simply too strong, and our record of played 5 won 4 in the second half of the season speaks for itself. Equally, viewed against the high standards we set ourselves at the start of the season, our battingwas too often tentative, and our bowling and catching somewhat erratic. Our huge potential was not quite fulfilled in terms of performance, though results suggest otherwise! Playing against Harrow 3rds proved somewhat of a mismatch, with the solitary century of the team’s season scored by Patwal preceding a dominant bowling display which ensured a comfortable victory. RGS High Wycombe proved entertaining opponents. Ultimately our boundary hitting outweighed our propensity for wayward bowling, and we won by 14 runs after our opponents contrived to collapse in epic fashion. St Albans – as they have tended to do – scored very slowly and lacked penetration with the ball. Our 9-wicket victory followed a comfortable (if rather sedate) run chase. MCS was an entertaining match, with our total of 178 looking rather light after a slow start to the innings. In our best display of the season with the ball, though, our bowlers gave little away and all catches were taken: the match was won by 58 runs. Our final match of the season, against Haberdashers’ 1st XI, brought the season round full circle (though it was comfortably 30 degrees warmer than our opening match of the season). On a sweltering day, and a good batting surface, we laboured to a total of 192 after a slow start, Thomas again proving his value to the club with a swashbuckling 60 not out. Our bowlers put the ball in the right areas but could not find the early wickets needed to put our opponents under pressure. The match was competitive – as most were against 1st XIs this season – but we eventually lost to the better side by 8 wickets. The number of players who represented the 2nd XI this season is indicative of the strength in depth of the senior squad, with many going on to the 1st XI. I would like to thank the players for their skills, determination, and commitment throughout the season, and wish our departing Upper Sixth the best of luck in their future exploits. Mr T W Jenkin