Grand double for Cottonians

After Thursday’s under-14 title triumph, it was the under-16 boys’ turn to shine under lights, and although for major parts of the match they looked like coming off second best, they kept their nerve to posted a 13-run win over Bethany High School in a low-scoring final.

Cottons made just 96 before being bowled out in 19.3 overs, but fought back to restrict Bethany to 83 for eight in their 20 overs. Electing to bat, the opening pair of Aadithya Abraham and Purva Hegde seemed far from comfortable facing the Bethany pace duo of Devashish and Shreyas S. The right-arm quicks were on target from ball one, especially Devashish, but it was Shreyas who got Bethany the first breakthrough when he caught and bowled Aadithya in his second over. The Cottons batsmen were slow in scoring and it showed as the team reached its fifty in only the 13th over.

Cottons skipper Prithviraj (21, 2x4), who was sent back to the pavilion after falling onto the stumps upon being hit by a bouncer from Rahul Pinto (3-0-12-1), was the top-scorer for his team even as the rest crumbled under pressure towards the end. Adithya S (4-0-19-2), clinical in his line and length, was the pick of the Bethany bowlers. In reply, Bethany got off to a shaky start with openers Ashwin and Adithya Somanna (20, 1x4) struggling to find runs. Unlike Bethany, who relied mainly on their four quicks, Cottons brought in off-spinner Rounak Ranka in the second over itself, and it bore fruit as he scalped Ashwin with his second ball.

Bethany continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, though Aadithya Reddy (19 n.o., 1x4) battled on gamely. But with 19 required off the last over, there was little he could do.

Brief scores: Bishop Cotton Boys’ High School: 96 all out in 19.3 overs (Adithya S 2-19) bt Bethany High School: 83/8 in 20 overs (Karthikeyan 2-24).