The School’s 2021 return to cricket brought a glittering county cup run for one team and the best performance in decades by an individual batsman.
After last year’s Summer Term lockdown wiped out all cricket fixtures, the current Year 8 team reached the final of the 2021 Middlesex County Cup following victories in the early rounds that were capped by a ten-wicket win in the semi-final.
And in Year 10, Ranvir Sinha broke School records by scoring three centuries during the season.
Head of Cricket Richard Scally said: “Overall, it has been very pleasing to see cricket back this summer and to return to both Saturday and mid-week fixtures for the pupils. In what has nevertheless been a challenging season – with not only Covid but the poor weather we have had – the completion of 78 fixtures has been a great achievement.”
Even though they had had no opportunity to play when they were in Year 7, the Year 8 boys put together a string of impressive performances. On their path to the county cup final, they saw off challenges from Alexandra Park School in round 1, Fortismere School in round 2 and Enfield Grammar School in round 3.
In the semi-final, bowler Krutarth Behera’s 5 wickets for just 8 runs helped them dismiss The Fulham Boys School for 37 all out. In the final, held at Harrow School, the team fell 57 runs short in their pursuit of St Benedict’s 151-7.
Mr Scally said: “We’re proud of the team’s performances throughout the tournament ably led by captain Ved Nair, and of those of our Year 9 and Year 10 teams, who reached their semi-final and quarter-final respectively.”
The scoring of three centuries by the Year 10 team’s ace batsman, Ranvir Sinha, was, said Director of Sport Jonathan Hart, “a fantastic achievement”. Neither he nor Dave Maughan, who was Head of Games from 1974–2003, could remember any pupil previously pulling off such a feat.
In Year 9, Girish Radhakrishnan has also been very impressive with his bowling, both for his School team and for his county, Berkshire, Mr Scally added.
Ranvir, Ved, Girish and Krutarth all featured in the QE team of the year drawn up by the PE department at the end of the season.
“With continued investment in the square and some very talented young cricketers coming through the School, cricket is in a good position as we look forward to a more normal 2022,” said Mr Scally.