A huge congratulations to Avaani Katechia (Year 10), who has been recognised at the recent Cricket East Awards for the County girls' team.

 Avaani picked up the following awards: U15 Players’ Player of the Year, U15 Coaches’ Player of the Year, U15 County Division Leading Run Scorer, and U18 “Stepped Up” Recognition Medal. These awards culminated in a very successful 2024 season, during which Avaani represented the County for both the U15 and U18 girls’ teams and was selected for the Cricket East EPP (Emerging Player Pathway). The season saw Avaani shine with back-to-back half-centuries against Norfolk and Suffolk and finishing as the leading run scorer in the U15 league, with a batting average of 45.

Avaani only started playing cricket in the summer of 2020 at her grandad’s local club in Luton. This sparked her interest, and she soon found a club closer to home in Bedford, where she has played for the last three summers. She was one of the first members of a small group of girls that laid the foundations for a girls’ section at Bedford Cricket Club.

Her skills have grown steadily, particularly in pace bowling, which earned her a call-up to the U13 Cricket East county setup. Outside of playing, Avaani is active in various club activities, including fundraising, groundskeeping, umpiring and supporting coaches with sessions for younger girl cricketers. Most recently, she completed her Young Cricket Leaders course, a significant milestone in her development.

Reflecting on her journey, Avaani said: “Cricket has fast become the rhythm of my life, enabling me to channel my passion and energy into something I really enjoy and love. The awards reflect my hard work and dedication, and I look forward to continuing my involvement in the growth of women’s and girls’ cricket, including at BGS.”