A Busy Week On Our Street
Together Berkshire Cricket & Chance to Shine delivered a fantastic week of activity, as Slough hosted the regional Street Cricket Finals for the 4th successive year. Led by Urban Development Officer Munir Umer, children from across the south were given the opportunity to compete and showcase their talent, energy and skills whilst also demonstrating the inclusivity of the programme across the South East.
A Week of Chance to Shine Street Cricket Success
The action began on Tuesday with the inaugural girls-only Chance to Shine Street Cricket regional competition. Over 60 girls from Berkshire, Hampshire, and Buckinghamshire came together for a day designed to be fun, inclusive, and engaging. The morning focused on skill-based activities, allowing players to build confidence and connect, before an afternoon of exciting Street20 matches packed with boundaries and big moments. The event was a huge success and highlighted the growing appetite for girls’ cricket, making a strong case to become a regular fixture.
Wednesday saw the highly anticipated Under 12s Chance to Shine Street Cricket regional finals, with a place in the national finals up for grabs. Teams from across the region—including Oxford, Banbury, Buckinghamshire, Chalvey, Stoke Poges, Reading East, and Reading West—competed fiercely throughout the group stages.
Defending champions Langley once again demonstrated their quality, progressing confidently to the semi-finals, where they defeated Chalvey. Oxford and Reading East battled through the other side of the draw, with Oxford narrowly overcoming Reading East to set up a repeat of the 2025 final.
In a tense final, Oxford looked on course while chasing 62, but a late collapse shifted the momentum. Requiring six runs off the final ball to tie, they fell just short, handing Langley victory and securing their place in the national finals in August, where they will aim to defend their title.
The week concluded on Thursday with the Under 15s Chance to Shine Street Cricket regional finals, featuring 12 teams competing for a national finals berth. Oxford entered as favourites, but it was Reading Central who stole the show.
After winning an early Reading derby against Reading East, Reading Central built momentum and went unbeaten throughout the day. They progressed to the final alongside Buckinghamshire, who produced an impressive semi-final performance to defeat Reading East.
In the final, Reading Central set a commanding target of 82, thanks to strong batting performances from Slar Hashmi, Ahmed Imran, and Arush. Buckinghamshire struggled to respond, with disciplined bowling from Husain Habil, Irvinjot Singh, and Abdul Wahab restricting their scoring. Reading Central secured a convincing victory to book their place in the national finals.
Looking Ahead
Across all three days, the regional finals highlighted the impact of Chance to Shine Street Cricket in bringing young people together, offering competitive opportunities alongside a fun and inclusive environment. With Langley (U12s) and Reading Central (U15s) advancing, attention now turns to the national finals in August.
To find out more about Chance to Shine Street Cricket sessions and how to get involved, visit the Street Cricket page: https://berkshirecricket.org/street-cricket/
