Taylorian

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TAYLORIAN 2024

The season proper yielded wins against Watford Grammar School, Berkhamsted School and Whitgift to secure a National Quarter Final fixture against Cranleigh. The Whitgift match will live long in the memory: the 1st XI batted first and reached 214 in their 20 overs, with Pansilu Wijesinghe (79) and Aaryan Sawant (72) the standout performers. It was a record total in the National Competition. The bowling and fielding were just as notable, and the side bowled out Whitgift for 139 in 17.2 overs. Rahul Rajkumar took one of the most amazing catches ever seen on the long-on boundary to wrap up a 10/10 team performance. In the National T20 quarterfinal the 1st XI hosted an unbeaten Cranleigh side at Sandy Lodge. Losing the toss, we were invited to bat first and after an early wobble we posted 148 in our 20 overs; Krish Patel scored a sparkling 66 not out and was ably supported by Rahul Rajkumar, who scored 49. After the break, the bowlers were up to the task and defended our score with skilful bowling under pressure. The 1st XI ran out winners by 27 runs, setting up a National semifinal between the winners of St Edward’s and Millfield. On Saturdays, the 1st XI started the season with a close match against Hampton, losing narrowly, before registering close victories against St Paul’s School and Berkhamsted School, alongside a convincing win against St Albans. At the time of writing, Pansilu Wijesinghe is leading the run scoring with 374 at an average of 34 including three half centuries. Pansilu has also picked up 17 wickets including a five-wicket haul against Berkhamsted. However, it is Peter Nedeljkovic who leads the wicket-taking rankings with 20 at an average of 13.95. Brayden Doran has 16 and Thomas McLeish has taken 15 victims so far. However, the bowling performance of the year has come from left arm orthodox, Jacob Rose, who took 6-12 in a remarkable spell against St Albans School. Mr I. McGowan Squad: A. Arun, A. Bhandarkar, A. Bhasin, A. Sawant (Capt.), B. Doran, J. Rose, J. Bridge, J. Beeby, K. P. Patel (Vice-Capt.), P. Wijesinghe, P. Nedeljkovic, R. Rajkumar, S. Sangani, T. McLeish, T. Ford, T. Embleton, V. Verma.