1st XI secure first tour victory after destructive batting performance

Hampton School 159-7 (20 overs, Chandler 48)

SGVP School Ahmedabad 117 all out (19.5 overs, Avant-Smith 2/8)

Hampton win by 42 runs

Hampton’s cricketers maintained their momentum into the second half of their Indian tour with a convincing victory in their opening Ahmedabad fixture this afternoon, the fourth match of the tour.

Inspired by a coruscating century partnership between Tom Chandler (48) and team captain Denil Manuel (46), the tourists overcame a fragile start in the field to emerge as victors by an unambiguous 42 run margin.

Batting first under a clear blue sky and overlooked by the most stunning architecture of the trip, the tourists recovered from a stuttering start to post a challenging total of 159 for seven in their twenty overs.

Central to this imposing total was the partnership of 105 in thirteen overs, including nine boundaries. Momentum slipped in the final few overs but a rate of eight an over always looked competitive.

SGVP School set about the run chase with alacrity, posting sixty runs in the first seven overs and threatening to overhaul the target in short order. Eight fours and two sixes put the tourists on the back foot.

But two quick wickets for Pravin Kiritharan stemmed the flow of runs, and three more for Matt Avant-Smith supported by excellent catching left the hosts with an uphill struggle that proved beyond them.

In the end the margin of victory probably flattered the tourists but this was a triumph built on brave batting by senior players with further evidence that Hampton have a strong hand of spin bowlers to call on in the summer.

A memorable day ended with a visit from religious leader Swamiji, who spoke to the players about international cooperation and spirituality in a ceremony that closed a day of vivid and unforgettable impressions.