COLTS UPDATE
By Simon Heaney
Middlesex Colts Association North Area U15 Division 5
05/07/2012
Bessborough U15B 141-3 (20 overs)
MTSSC U15B 94-6 (20 overs)
Bessborough won by 47 runs
Both of Bessborough’s under-15 sides are through to the league play-offs after finishing top of their respective Middlesex Colts Association North Area divisions.
The A side stayed top of Division 2 without having to change into their whites as their match against Lohana fell victim to the weather last Thursday (5 July).
Conditions were slightly better on the top Headstone Manor pitch and the B team took full advantage with an excellent 47-run win over MTSSC B.
The visitors won the toss and put Bessborough in to bat. That decision backfired spectacularly as openers Dominic Baxter (44) and Kunal Patel (32) put on 90 in 14 overs. Hersh Punjani (21 not out) and Jack Graham Hovel (14 not out) pushed Bessborough’s total up to 141-3 after the full 20 overs.
With a significant score up on the board, Captain Dillon Popat took the opportunity to give some of his lesser used bowlers a chance to shine. His faith was rewarded as opening bowler Abbiram Varathan (1-18) knocked out Anuru’s stumps with the very first ball of MTSSC’s innings.
All-rounder Baxter followed up his fine batting display with a very tidy spell of bowling, taking 1-7 from four overs. Popat’s spin claimed 2-11, while Ravi Vyas (0-16), Kapil Kiritharan (0-10) and Thanuka Jayawardena (0-7) provided excellent economical support.
The performance of Kiritharan and Thanuka Jayawardena, both under-11 players standing in for unavailable older regulars, were particularly impressive as both are more used to playing on shorter wickets with lighter balls.
The M.C.A. North Area play-offs will take place later this month and if either of Bessborough’s sides is successful, they will go forward to play in the Middlesex County area finals with a chance of going into the national’s tournament.
Dates for the play-offs will be confirmed soon and hopefully as many senior members as possible will be able to clear space in their diary's to cheers our boys on.