Sport

Old Students prospect rewarded as best afield in T20 final win

Mar 1, 2024

Destructive: Old Students' Joban Sandhu announced himself with a dominant showing in the Lower-grade T20 final. Photo by Jesse Robertson-Torres

Old Students Cricket Club lays claim to a handful of juniors worthy of a high rating — and another may be knocking on the door.

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Joban Sandhu, 15, strung together a seniors-worthy performance in Thursday night’s Cricket Shepparton Lower-grade T20 final, duly recognised as best-on-ground in Old Students’ 30-run win over Karramomus.

His bowling figures jump out at first — having scooped 4-17 from a remarkable four overs that included a searing three-pole frenzy in the 15th.

Sandhu was vital in snuffing out a promising Karramomus start, with the victory target of 147 left looking unattainable after the youngster’s night of work.

He knows it, too.

“It felt amazing out there, probably the best I’ve bowled for a while, and it just felt brilliant,” Sandhu said.

“The bowling was getting easier over time because dots and singles weren’t going to win them the game.

“They had to go for boundaries, so it was getting easier to hit spots and play for the fielders.”

Sandhu’s efforts led the Students in corralling the Bloods’ main threats before feasting on the middle order and leaving the tail to meekly fend for itself.

There was always belief of triggering a collapse, though.

“We always knew (Trav) Guppy and the top order would get a partnership, but we knew if we grabbed an early wicket, we could get them out quickly,” Sandhu said.

“I’ve always got trust in our bowling; we’ve done really well in the T20 tournament.”