T20 Finals Day 2026
After persistent rain threatened to ruin the day, play in the two semi-finals eventually got underway around an hour and a half after the scheduled start with Merchant Taylors’ taking on Altrincham Grammar while Stowe lined up against Repton.
One of the fancied teams in the competition, Repton got off to the worst possible start, losing three wickets without a run on the board. The middle order steadied the ship thanks to an excellent partnership between Toby During (58) and Toby Newsome (42) which ensured that Repton’s bowlers had a score to defend. Chasing 118 for a place in the final, Stowe’s innings was derailed by the run out of their captain Rushil Sharma and thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals, with Toby During (3-15) the pick of the bowlers. Repton’s 22 run margin of victory was impressive given the torrid start to their innings.
In the other semi-final Altrincham Grammar School - the first state school to reach this stage of the competition - were asked to bat by Merchant Taylors’. The dismissal of their in-form batter Charlie Rourke was a key moment in the game and tight bowling ensured that Altrincham were restricted to a below-par total of 105-7. In reply, Merchant Taylors’ lost three of their top order relatively early, but an invaluable partnership between Rishi Mehta (45*) and Zak Farthing (29*) saw their side home to a comfortable win. Altrincham at least had the prospect of a Lord’s final in the Knight-Stokes Cup later in the same week to temper their disappointment which they went on to win.
In the national final, Merchant Taylors’ elected to bat and posted a competitive total of 125 all out thanks to an enterprising 43 from 37 balls by opener Cooper Mavin. Repton’s duo of Toby’s – During and Newsome – once again made excellent contributions taking 3 wickets each. In reply, Repton lost three wickets in the opening powerplay, but an enterprising knock by Toby Newsome (32) propelled Repton towards their target. After his dismissal as the sixth wicket to fall, Repton’s lower order remained in the hunt until the run out of Freddie Dewhurst (23) sealed the team’s fate, falling agonisingly short of victory in a thrilling finish truly worthy of a national final.
