SLOUGH blasted their way to victory in the Berkshire final of the NatWest Under-19 T20 blast on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.

They dismissed Purley for 110 in 19.4 overs and needed only 11.1 overs to reach their target for the loss of just one wicket. PICTURE GALLERY

Purley had done well to reach the final, but were struggling right from the first ball when Adam Khan was clean-bowled by Anwar Khan.

At the halfway stage of the innings they were 50-4, with James Denton having made 27, but improved to 95-4 by the 16th over thanks to Jamie Stansfield (29) and Harry Russell.

Russell went on to remain unbeaten with 27, but the tailenders were shot out by Samiullah Sajid, who finished with 4-13 off 3.4 overs.

There was also a wicket apiece for Khan (1-17), Hamza Majid (1-15), Will Harris (1-22), Sulaiman Akhtar (1-28) and Bilal Fayaaz (1-7).

Slough openers Mohammed Avas and Fayaaz wasted no time in setting about their task, crashing 49 runs off the first five overs with a succession of boundaries.

With the total on 52, Avas was caught off a skier, having hit 39 off 23 balls with three sixes and four boundaries.

But Fayaaz, with 39 off 29 balls, and Harris (33 from 15) eased their side across the line.

Between them, the three batsmen smashed eight sixes and nine fours.

Avas received the trophy from Neil Doody, chairman of Berkshire CCC, with both finalists getting medals.

He thanked the Slough club for hosting the event with just a few days’ notice.

In their semi-final, Slough were all out for 125 (Avas 37, Fayaaz 28, Harris 25) before restricting Finchampstead to 107-8 (Adam Dewes 42).

The other semi saw Purley make 127-8 (George Clarke 51no; Matt Smart 4-18) and then dismiss Emmbrook and Bearwood for 107 with Archie Carter contributing 26 and Josh Smart 22.