Bermudian all-rounder Luke Horan played a starring role with the bat as reigning champions King’s College, Taunton, dismantled Blundell’s School by 105 runs to book their place in the South West Regional T20 Final.
Having been inserted by the opposition after losing the toss, King’s College put on a clinical display of high-tempo batting in the semi-final clash, racking up an imposing 196-4 from their allotted 20 overs.
Opening batsman T Lamey anchored the early part of the innings with a beautifully struck 57, but it was Horan who injected pure adrenaline into the middle order. The 17-year-old Bermudian international showcased his immense power-hitting capabilities, blasting a lightning-fast 41 runs off just 25 balls—an aggressive cameo punctuated by three boundaries and two massive sixes.
Blundell’s bowler B Uglow was the only real thorn in the Somerset school's side, returning respectable figures of two wickets for 39 runs from his four-over spell, but he could do little to stem the flow of boundaries.
Faced with a daunting run rate of nearly ten runs an over, Blundell's School never looked comfortable in their reply as the King's College bowling unit squeezed the life out of the chase.
Aside from a defiant knock of 36 from A Evans, the Devon-based side collapsed under a relentless aerial assault led by Jago Barclay. The King's spinner turned in a world-class, destructive spell, taking a staggering five wickets for just 10 runs across his four overs—including two maidens—to completely tear the heart out of the Blundell’s batting lineup.
Horan also delivered a tidy contribution with the ball, sending down two highly disciplined, economical overs for 11 runs without reward to keep the pressure mounting at the other end.
Blundell’s were ultimately bundled out for a paltry 91 runs, sealing a comprehensive victory for the Taunton powerhouse. King’s College move on to the regional showcase final with their defense of the national crown firmly on track.
King's College, Taunton Inning
..05 (08) R Shimpi c & b B Uglow
..57 (31) T Lamey c B Shepherd b J Pugsley
..38 (25) Z Vukusic c H Cronkshaw b A Evans
..43 (30) B Michael b B Uglow
..41 (25) Luke Horan Not Out
..01 (01) N Jones Not Out
..11 Extras (2lb-9w)
196 Total for 4 wickets after 20 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-11 (Shimpi); 2-96 (Vukusic); 3-104 (Lamey); 4-194 (Michael);
Blundell's School Bowlers
4.0-0-30-0 N Musikanth
4.0-0-39-2 B Uglow
1.0-0-14-0 H Squire
1.0-0-17-0 M Mould
2.0-0-22-0 L Thomas
2.0-0-19-0 M Harrison
3.0-0-31-1 A Evans
2.0-0-22-1 J Pugsley
Blundell's School Inning
..36 (32) A Evans LBW J Barclay
..00 (06) T Holley b Z Vukusic
..06 (05) N Musikanth c Luke Horan b R Shimpi
..15 (17) M Mould b J Barclay
..00 (02) B Uglow b J Barclay
..13 (23) H Squire b F Watson
..00 (02) H Cronkshaw b J Barclay
..01 (05) B Shepherd b R Sanders
..01 (02) J Pugsley c N Jones b J Barclay
..06 (21) M Harrison Not Out
..03 (05) J Birts c T Lamey b F Watson
..10 Extras (2nb-8w)
..91 Total All Out after 19.4 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-2 (Holley); 2-11 (Musikanth); 3-62 (Mould); 4-62 (Uglow); 5-71 (Evans); 6-71 (Cronkshaw); 7-74 (Shepherd); 8-75 (Pugsley); 9-82 (Squire); 10-91 (Birts);
King's College, Taunton Bowlers
3.0-0-21-1 R Shimpi
2.0-0-13-1 Z Vukusic
2.0-0-16-0 T Watson
4.0-2-10-5 J Barclay
2.0-0-11-0 L Horan
3.0-0-10-1 R Sanders
2.4-0-05-2 F Watson
1.0-0-05-0 B Michael
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