Shrewsbury School U15s are national runners-up
Shrewsbury School finished as runners up at the national finals of the ESCA/ECB Schools Under 15 T20 Finals Day held at the picturesque Arundel Castle ground in West Sussex – the home of the Duke of Norfolk.
After first winning the Shropshire Under 15s title and then making through the regional rounds, the side qualified for the national finals for the second successive year – no mean feat in a competition which featured 950 entries.
Shrewsbury, faced Scarborough College in the first semi-final with the former taking first knock.
After the early loss of captain Will Parkinson-Witte, consistent scoring by the remaining Shrewsbury batters enabled them to reach 154-7 after their 20 overs.
Gurjeen Singh Athwal (46 off 29 deliveries), Arjan Barard (23 off 27), Oscar Howarth (24 off 25), Bryan Mudalige (19 off 13) and Harry Inkin (12 not out from six) all made important contributions.
Scarborough, despite having wickets in hand, were never up with the required run rate and were left with requiring over 10 an over off the last 10 overs with eight wickets standing and 15 off the last.
It proved too difficult a task as Shrewsbury emerged victors by three runs. Reuben Kundu, Inkin and Hugo Odd each took one wicket for Shrewsbury.
In the final, Shrewsbury came, up against a very strong Kings College Taunton team containing three regional and five Somerset players.
Shrewsbury again batted first adding 33 for the first wicket between Athwal (22 off 17) and Parkinson-Witte before a steady flow of wickets left them in a precarious position at 62-6 in the ninth over and then 85-7 at 13.
However, a partnership of 38 for the eighth wicket between Inkin (20 off 21) and Jake Adams (25 off 33) helped Shrewsbury to reach 128 all out with just one ball remaining of their innings.
Kings wasted no time in chasing down their target with their openers putting on 110. Their victory was achieved by nine wickets with more than five overs remaining.
Congratulations to the Shrewsbury squad on their superb season under the leadership of Manager Gregg Smith and Coach Sam Whitney representing Shropshire on the national stage.
