FAPS clinch U-14 title

Vinay's six-wicket haul spells doom for Cottonians

Vinay Murug­esh’s brilliant six-wicket ha­ul and Rohit Pai’s good batting performance helped Frank Anthony Public Sch­ool (FAPS) upset defending champions Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and clinch the Cottonian Shield inter-sch­ool junior (under-14) title here on Friday.

The hosts, opting to bat first, were skittled out for a paltry 106 in 18.4 overs with only Rahul Kumar (38, 35b, 7x4) making an impact with the bat as Vinay (6/15) ran through the beleaguered holders.

FAPS chased down the target quite comfortably with Rohit Pai’s unbeaten 37 (17b, 7x4) taking them home in 16.5 overs.

On a pleasant evening with the stands at the school ground filled to capacity by supporters of both the teams, Cottons’ openers -- skipper Jeshwanth and Rahul -- laid a decent platform in the first five overs as 31 runs came off it.

Jeshwanth (20, 16b, 4x4) was the aggressor in the initial stages especially dominant on the off-side cracking a flurry of boundaries as Cottons maintained a healthy run-rate of around six.

However, the introduction of Gaurav in the sixth over spelt Jeshwanth’s doom as he was caught behind by FAPS’ skipper-cum-wicketkeeper Luvnith Sisodia.

But Rahul ensured that the momentum wasn’t lost as he upped the ante with FAPS’ Mounav M taking the stick in the seventh and ninth overs as boundaries flowed.

On course for a competitive total at 69/2 after the completion of 10 overs, Cottons’ downslide began in the 11th over with Rahul gifting away his wicket.  The right-hand bat was run out attempting a needless second run with Ayush Shetty after flicking Pranav to deep mid-wicket.

The Vinay show unfolded thereafter as he scalped two wickets in the 15th over, that of wicketkeeper-batsman Sapthagiri and Yashas.

Vinay got Ayush (20, 24b, 2x4) stumped in the 17th over as FAPS ran through Cottons’ innings with the rest of the wickets falling in a heap by the 19th over.

Chasing 107 was going to be tricky in a Cottonian Shield final as they always are but FAPS were off to a good start with 35 runs coming off the first six overs.

DH News Service

Brief scores: Bishop Cotton Boys School (BCBS): 106 all out in 18.4 overs (Rahul Kumar 38; Vinay M 6-15, Gaurav 2-12) lt to Frank Anthony Public School (FAPS): 107/2 in 16.5 overs (Rohit Pai 37 n.o., Mitesh 24).