News

02 July 2019

County championship win rounds off John Lyon Cricket season

The John Lyon 1st XI  have played one of their finest matches of the year to take the Middlesex crown with a thumping county championship win.

The final of the English Schools Cricket Association’s and Schools Cricket Association of Middlesex U19 1st XI Cup against long-time rivals, St Benedict’s Ealing, was played on Monday 1st July and saw John Lyon dominate their opposition to win by a full 10 wickets.

After an often outstanding but mixed season that had seen six wins, six losses and six matches lost to the weather, including a narrow early-season regular fixture win over St Benedict’s, the final was a hard one to call.

But having lost the toss and been asked to bowl, the School’s front line attack tore through the top order, with Aryan Sutaria taking two wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs, helping reduce St Benedict’s to 24-3. Sustained bowling pressure and excellent fielding restricted the opposition to 107-7 at the end of the 20 over innings.

Chasing a realistic but tricky target, John Lyon did not hang around, with Dhanesh Jegatheesan leading from the front with powerful but sensible hitting to take him to 75 off just 57 balls, assisted by Advait Sundaram with 20. The opening batsmen remained unbeaten as they reached the target of 108 with more than three overs in hand.

The county win was the first in over a decade for John Lyon, and the sixth time the School has lifted the trophy in the competition’s 50 years.

Immediately after the game, John Lyon Director of Sport, Mr Shane Cloete, praised the performance: “An amazing game and what a county championship win for the boys. They were clinical in all they did. We are all really pleased with their performance.”

Head of Cricket Mr Adam Ling, added: “Today reinforced just how far the 1st XI has come in the past 12 months and their strength and depth with both bat and ball.”

The School wishes to thank Rhys Benjamin OL for his continued support of the School’s 1st XI, including his scoring, live match tweets at @JLSCricket1stXI sand his excellent scorecard graphics.