Match Report
Warwick School Boys-U15T vs  VAR Academy U15, Colombo
On: Sunday, 24 Mar 2024
Venue: Away

Our first matches on tour took place at the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in Colombo, an historic ground and club, which has hosted test matches in the past and still hosts first class cricket. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Union_Cricket_and_Athletic_Club

Our 15s lost the toss and bowled first against a very strong VAR Academy U15 side. Despite a few plays-and-misses against our opening bowlers, Leaver and Budd, their openers posted a fifty partnership for the first wicket before retiring after seven overs. The first of Walmsley’s two accurate spells (eventually 4-1-17-1) helped reduce the scoring-rate, but it was Gillard-Browne’s more flighted spin that got the first wicket of tour, thanks to a superb diving catch in the deep by Trend. Gupta also bowled very well in the spin department (3-0-14-1), while Hargett also got a wicket with a neat stumping by McGrory who kept impressively throughout. O’Reilly bowled two impressively steady overs at the end of the innings, and overall we did well to restrict our opponents to 138-3 from their 20 overs.

We started steadily in reply, and had reached 23-0 before Gupta running for a nice shot was done by a direct hit from mid-wicket. Larucci and Trend followed quickly, but from 25-3 we were rescued by a fine partnership of 47 by Shannon and Askin, taking us halfway to the target after 12 overs, and very much in contention, when Shannon unluckily chopped on for an impressive 28 and almost an hour’s batting in incredibly tough conditions. McGrory strongly supported Askin, but despite their best efforts the run-rate mounted, and we could not manage the 36 we needed from the last three overs, with McGrory scoring 12, and Askin falling to the penultimate ball, just a boundary short of what would have been a richly deserved half century (46 from 34 balls, 4 fours, and a big six to a huge (first-class) boundary.

Champagne moment*: Trend’s catch.

Comedy moment: McGrory hitting a four and throwing his bat to square leg from the same ball.

VAR Academy U15 138-3 (20 overs), WS U15 117-6 (20 overs) – lost by 21 runs

* Dislaimer: modelled on Test Match Special, and for an outstanding moment in the match. Unlike TMS, not involving any champagne of any vintage.