With more or less normal service ? albeit very restricted because of exams – resumed after half-term, there were some thrilling games. None more so than at Malvern where their match with Shrewsbury ended in a tie. I am indebted to Rob Morris of Shrewsbury for this excellent report. In a game confined to 35 overs a side owing to steady early morning rain in Malvern, Shrewsbury won the toss and invited Malvern to bat. They made fairly sedate progress on a lively pitch. An 84-run third wicket partnership between Josh White (34) and Mahal Ahmed (51 not out) was the highlight of innings. The last five overs yielded 36 runs as Malvern posted 135 for four.
In reply, Shrewsbury started confidently as the sun emerged and at the halfway stage needed only 60 runs with eight wickets in hand. Tight bowling from the Malvern bowlers and a well-set field put the brake on Shrewsbury?s scoring. In the 11 overs from over 19 to 30, Shrewsbury managed only 16 runs as the required rate went from under three to six an over as they lost valuable wickets. A couple of productive overs saw the target drop to 16 with 3.1 overs to go with five wickets in hand. When Dan Lloyd lobbed a catch to short extra cover on the last ball of Toby Strong?s final over, Shrewsbury were under pressure. Just three runs off Ahmed?s first over further applied the screw, before Malvern captain Josh Haynes bought himself back for the 34th over. A single off the first ball was followed by a wicket from the next ball. Shrewsbury?s 5th form slow left armer Tom Brunskill played the next ball back to the bowler, before smashing the ball down the ground. Brunskill turned for two but his captain George Panayi was run out by a direct hit. A single off the last ball enabled Brunskill to keep the strike for the last over.
So to the final over: Shrewsbury were 126-8 with 10 needed. Brunskill stroked the ball down to long on and set off for two but his partner was run out by another direct hit. Two runs off the second ball then a dot ball meant that six runs were needed from three balls. Brunskill then hit both of the next two balls for two with his partner Pat Jacob easily making his ground at the non-striker?s end thanks to some wayward throws. Three runs were needed off the last ball and thus, with nine wickets down, all three results were possible. The ball was struck down the ground and the long-on fielder had to make some ground to field the ball. The batsmen turned for two but once again a wayward throw enabled Jacob to make his ground and an exciting tie was the result. A great advert for school cricket and a tremendously tense conclusion to the match.
The National Twenty20 competition is reaching its final stages, happily having not been interrupted quite so much as usual by foul weather. In the East section, Felsted played Bedford in the final. Regional organiser Mark Allbrook takes up the story.
The East Region Final was a thoroughly modern game of schools cricket played in colourful clothing and with music (most of it unknown to this writer!) blaring out in the hiatuses in play. In many ways the match was also typical of this form of the cricket, turning as it did on several key moments, and with seven different spin bowlers used (something this writer does understand and applauds!)
Bedford won the toss and elected to bat and the openers, Kieran Duxbury (60) and Ali Hassan (40) put on 93 for the first wicket in ten overs. In the first half of the innings the Felsted bowlers had yet to ?get off the bus? (incidentally, they had generously offered to travel though they could have claimed home advantage), but spells from Oliver Hills (three for 23) and Ben Waring (one for 19) pegged Bedford right back; as a result, Bedford managed only 152 when a score of near 200 looked on.
In Felsted?s reply Bedford captain Ben Slawinski restricted the early batting with a spell of tight off spin bowling (one for 10). But as soon as Yvan Grant, the Felsted captain, came to the crease, the match swung Felsted?s way; ably supported by Luke Chapman (37), Grant tore into the Bedford attack, hitting six towering sixes, scoring 86 in only 60 odd balls. He deserved a hundred, but was run out, though his innings saw Felsted home in the last over. They now play the West Midlands winner (Shrewsbury or Ellesmere) for a place on Finals day.
St Edward?s posted a very decent score at Marlborough of 242 for seven in their 50 overs, but were overcome in a thrilling finale after a game which had ebbed and flowed throughout, Marlborough eventually winning with nine down. Max Reid was the architect of this great run-chase with 104.
For the second time this season Wellingborough?s Ben Wall and George Groenland both made fine hundreds in the same match. Losing the toss and being put into bat first, Wellingborough recovered from the loss of an early wicket and Wall and Groenland posted a second wicket stand of 212. Whilst 50s are not usually reported on, Sean Mulvey came in at number four and promptly took the score from 237-2 in the 44th over, to 312-2 in just the 49th over, at which point the declaration came. Mulvey hit 56 not out from just 16 balls in a ruthless display of power hitting. Inevitably the large score took the game away from Bedford Modern especially with the loss of two early wickets but, to their credit, Bedford Modern battled hard to save the game and finished the day?s play at 148-7. An honourable draw.
In conditions all too familiar to schools cricket observers, the scene at Woodhouse Grove was described by one participant as ?a damp, green seamer, shrouded in mist and gloom amongst those dark satanic mills?. This after extremely heavy rain on Friday. Woodhouse Grove built 208-6 in 50 overs around captain Bailey Worcester’s undefeated 113. This was Worcester’s second consecutive century and included 14 fours and two sixes. Off-spinner Ted Patmore took three for 21 in his ten overs for St Peter?s but they let things slip as the innings came to its end, dropping two crucial catches combined with some uncharacteristic loose bowling. Some late hitting got the Grove up to 208. In reply St Peter?s batted steadily in the early stages and needed 66 in the last ten overs with five wickets remaining. Crucially, opener Harry Contreras was run out for 65 trying to steal a single to the keeper in the 48th over. With nine required from the final over Adbi Ahmed was able to restrict the batsman to seven to secure a tense one-run victory for the Grove.
There was some inter-generational rivalry at Dauntsey?s where the Master in charge is Andy Palmer. His side posted 125 all out against Monkton Combe where his son Sam is Master i/c. Father?s side seemed secure when Monkton were hovering on the brink at 83 for nine, with young leg-spinner Jack Grant taking four for 14. But they inched their way towards victory finishing just eight short before the last man was dismissed.
Results:
Myerscough 92-9 (20 overs), *Shrewsbury 93-3
Hymers 123, *QEGS Wakefield 125-4
St Edward’s 242-7 (50 overs), *Marlborough 246-9 (M Reid 104)
*Oakham 111, Felsted 114-4
*Woodhouse Grove 208-6 (50 overs)(B Worcester 113 not out), St Peter’s, York 207-7
Bradford GS 138,*Durham 142-1
MCC 243-3 dec, *High School of Glasgow 45
George Watson?s 133-9 (20 overs), *High School of Glasgow 133-8
MCC 241-3, (J Hern 110), *Glasgow Academy 72
*Glasgow Academy 209-6 (30 overs) (J Oliver 108, Dollar 104
*Haberdashers’ Aske’s 171-6 (20 overs), Berkhamsted 155-4
*Brighton 188 (50 overs)(Z Cissotti 5-40) Bede’s 189-4
*Malvern 135-4 (35 overs), Shrewsbury 135-9
*City of London Freeman’s 142, Worth 143-3
Clayesmore 146-7 (20 Overs),*Milton Abbey 58
Beechen Cliff 192, *Wycliffe 124 (Monkhouse Intersport League)
*King?s Gloucester 231?2 (25 overs) (C Ayland 108), Wycliffe 144
Bedford Modern 150-4 (20 overs),*Stowe 166-5
*Wellingborough 312-2 dec (B Wall 100, G Groenland 142 not out), Bedford Modern 148-7
St Paul’s 253-6 (50 overs)( N Solomon 105), *Reed’s 99
Rugby 272-4 dec, *Uppingham 136 (E Robinson 5-27)
*Dauntsey?s 125 (40 overs), Monkton Combe 117 (Monkhouse Intersport League)
*Brighton 188, (Z Cisotti 5-40), Bede’s 189-4
*Blundell?s 212-6 (40 overs), Clifton 10-0 (rain)
National Schools Twenty20 (cumulative)
To see the state of the competition overall, click here.
North East section group 1
Durham 145, RGS Newcastle 100-9
Durham 144-5, Barnard Castle 93-8
Durham win the group and now play Worksop
North East section group 2
Silcoates 88-6, QEGS 92-5
Silcoates 85-6, Bradford 86-1
QEGS 106-6, Bradford 94-8
QEGS Wakefield win the group and now play Woodhouse Grove
North East section group 3
Worksop College 136-8 St Peter’s, York 58
Hymers College 141 Worksop College 142-0
Hymers College 118-8 St Peter’s, York 119-3
Worksop win the group and now play Durham
North East section group 4
Woodhouse Grove 188-4, Birkdale 59
Ashville 164-7, Pocklington 144-8
Woodhouse Grove 201-3, Ashville 173-5
Woodhouse Grove win the group and now play QEGS Wakefield
North East section semi-finals
QEGS Wakefield 88, Woodhouse Grove 89-5
Woodhouse Grove play Durham or Worksop in the North East section?final
North East section finals day
Durham 78-3, Worksop 79-3
Woodhouse Grove 127-6, Worksop 101
Woodhouse Grove win the North East final and now play the North West winner
North West section group 4
*Manchester GS 201-1 (S Perry 139 not out), Stockport GS 80
Cheadle Hulme 95-7, *Manchester GS 99-3
Manchester GS win the group
North West section group 5
Lancaster RGS 118-7, *Sedbergh 120-3
Myerscough 110-9, *Sedbergh 112-1
*Sedbergh 168-4, Birkenhead 55
Sedbergh win the group
North West section play-off
Merchant Taylor?s Crosby 64, Bolton 65?7
North West section semi-finals
Bolton School 104?9, Manchester GS 105?2
Sedbergh 168-4, Birkenhead 55
Manchester GS play Sedbergh in the North West section final
North West section final
Manchester GS 125-5, Sedbergh 126-4
Sedbergh now play Woodhouse Grove in the regional final for a place on Finals day at Arundel
East section group 1
Repton 135-6, *Oakham 136-5
*Oakham 222-4, Trent 166-8 (20 overs)
Leicester GS 90, Repton 93-4
Oakham win the group
East section group 2
Perse 128-5, Leys 132-5
Greshams 134-8, Leys 113
Perse 154, Greshams 47
The Perse win the group
East section group 3
Felsted 148-7, Shenfield 93 9
Felsted 170-5, Ipswich 91-8
Felsted 188-5, St Joseph?s 96-8
Felsted win the group
East section group 4
Stamford 165?6, Rugby169?5
Oundle 117, Rugby 121-3
Rugby win the group and now play Bedford in the East section semi-finals
East section group 5
Bedford 169-5, *Wellingborough 133-6
Wellingborough 187-3, *Kimbolton 110-5
*Bedford 137-3, Stowe 108
Bedford win the group and now play Rugby in the East section semi-finals
East section play-offs
Felsted 181-5, Perse 120-8
*Felsted 162-4, Oakham 126
Bedford 138-8, Rugby 130-7
Felsted play Bedford in the East section final
East section final
*Bedford 152-6, Felsted 155-3
Felsted now play the winners of the West Midlands
West Midlands section group 1
Denstone 98-9, Bablake 99-2
Bablake 134-4, Warwick 138-2
Bloxham withdrew
Warwick wins the group; Bablake runners-up
West Midlands section group 2
*RGS Worcester 197-1, Wycliffe 96-4
Monmouth 130-6, Dean Close 131-8
Monmouth 154-7, Wycliffe 153-8
*RGS Worcester 154-5, Dean Close 112
RGS Worcester win the group; Dean Close runners-up
West Midlands section group 3
Bromsgrove 200-6, Queen Mary?s GS Walsall 40
Malvern 138-8, Wrekin 139-5
Queen Mary?s GS Walsall 111-9, Malvern 114-3
Bromsgrove 155-7, Wrekin 110
Bromsgrove win the group; Wrekin runners-up
West Midlands section group 4
*Shrewsbury 138-4, Wolverhampton GS 76-6
Newcastle under Lyme 50, Ellesmere 53-3
*Shrewsbury 117-8, Ellesmere 62-8
Wolverhampton GS 110, Newcastle under Lyme 102
Shrewsbury win the group; Ellesmere runners-up
West Midlands section play-offs
Shewsbury 187-3, Bablake 71-10
Warwick 175-2 Dean Close 108-6
RGS Worcester 139-9, Wrekin 110-7
Bromsgrove 114, Ellesmere 115-3
Shrewsbury, Warwick, RGS Worcester and Ellesmere reach the West Midlands section semi-finals
West Midlands section semi-finals
RGS Worcester 92-6,*Shrewsbury 95-5
Ellesmere 137-8,*Warwick 103
Shrewsbury now play Ellesmere in the West Midlands section final
South East section group 1
Bede’s 125-8, Aldridge 116-7
Ardingly 162, Brighton 89
Ardingly, *Bede’s 103-2
Bede?s win the group
South East section group 2
Eastbourne 132-8, *Cranleigh 133-4
Lancing 106, Hurstpierpoint 111-2
Hurstpierpoint 112-8, *Cranleigh 116-2
Cranleigh win the group
South East section group 4
Kent College 99-8, Epsom 103-4
Simon Langton withdrew; Tonbridge had a bye
Tonbridge 190-3, Epsom 109-6
Tonbridge win the group
South East?section semi-final and final
*Tonbridge 218-5, Bede?s 160-9
Dukje of York?s RMS withdrew
*Tonbridge 120-9, Cranleigh 121-9 (T Pettman 5-24)
Cranleigh win the South East section
South London section semi-finals
Eltham 98-8, RGS Guildford 99-3
Whitgift 171-4, Hampton 124-7
Whitgift play RGS Guildford in the South London section final
South London section final
RGS Guildford 107-9, Whitgift 111-6
Whitgift now play Merchant Taylors? Northwood in the London section final
North London section group 1
Forest 83-9, *St Albans 84-1
St Albans win the group
North London section group 2
*Mill Hill 79, Berkhamsted 77-8
Mill Hill win the group
North London section group 3
*Merchant Taylors’ 214-4, Aldenham 104
Merchant Taylors’ win the group
North London section semi-finals
Merchant Taylors’ 165-8, Berkhamsted 151-4
St Albans had a walkover after Mill Hill withdrew
North London section finals
Merchant Taylors’ 165-8, St Albans 147
Merchant Taylors? win the North London section
South London section group 1
RGS Guildford 169-5, Trinity 171-4 18.3 overs
KCS Wimbledon 142-9, RGS Guildford 144-5
KCS Wimbledon 121-7, Trinity 110
RGS Guildford win the group on NRR
South London group 2
Whitgift 198-3, Wilson?s 64-6
St George?s 114, Reed?s 115-?
Whitgift 199-5, Reed?s 57
Whitgift win the group
South London section group 3
*Dulwich 194-4, John Fisher 90
St Benedict’s 89, Hampton 95-1
Hampton 155-7 *Dulwich 136-6
John Fisher 126-5, St Benedict’s 128-2
Hampton 141-7, John Fisher 109-4
St Benedict?s 117-8, *Dulwich 121-5
Hampton win the group
South London section group 4
Eltham 166-3, Ibstock 59
Langley Park 94, Chigwell 95-5
Eltham 153-2, Chigwell 113
Eltham win the group
South London section semi-finals
*Whitgift 171-4, Hampton 124-7
*Eltham 98-8, RGS Guildford 99 for 3
Whitgift play RGS Guildford in the South London section final
South London section final
RGS Guildford 107-9, *Whitgift 111-6
Whitgift now play Merchant Taylors’ Northwood in the London section final
London section finals
*Whitgift 162-6, Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 138-7
Whitgidt now play Cranleigh for a place on finals day to represent the South East
South West section group 1
King Edward?s Bath 146-7, *Beechen Cliff 147-4
*Bristol GS 136-3, Beechen Cliff 138-4
*Bristol GS 136-4, King Edward?s Bath 137-3
King Edward?s S Bath conceded to Clifton
*Clifton 116-4, Beechen Cliff 113
Clifton win the group and now play King?s Taunton in the semi-final
South West section group 2
Taunton 190-5, *Downside 99-5
*Taunton 118-7, Kingswood 119-2
SGS (Filton) 168-4, *Taunton 108-9
SGS (Filton) 90-8, *Kingswood 84-6
Downside 108, *Kingswood 112-0
SGS (Filton) win the group and now play Millfield in the semi-final
South West section group 3
*Clayesmore 109, Plymouth 110-5
Millfield 235-4 (T Lace 110), *Sherborne 109-7
Millfield win the group and now play SGS (Filton) in the semi-final
South West section group 4
Blundell?s 78-8, King?s Taunton 79-3
Wellington (Somerset) 174-5, Blundell?s 68-8
King?s Taunton 205-5, Wellington (Somerset) 65
Queen?s Taunton withdrew
King?s Taunton win the group and now play Clifton in the semi-final
South West?section semi-finals
*Clifton 136-7. King?s Taunton 116-8
SGS (Filton) 96-7, Millfield 99-1
Clifton now play Millfield in the?South West section?final
South Central section group 1
*Winchester 133-9, Abingdon 99
Elizabeth College Guernsey withdrew
Winchester win the group
South Central section group 2
Lord Wandsworth 80 (20 overs), *Bradfield 84-0
Lord Wandsworth 132-9 (20 overs), Radley 118-8
*Bradfield 146-5 (20 overs), Radley 104-8
Bradfield win the group
South Central section group 3
*St Edward?s 104-7, Wellington (Berks) 107-1
Ryde withdrew
Wellington win the group
South Central section group 4
*Oratory 79-9, Portsmouth 80-3
*Oratory 126-8, Marlborough 127-3
Portsmouth 152-4, Marlborough 156-6
Marlborough win the group
South Central section play-offs
Winchester 95-9, *Wellington (Berks) 96-2
Bradfield 91-9, Marlborough 95-4
Wellington play Marlborough in the South Central section final
South Central section final
*Wellington (Berks) 167-5, Marlborough 151-6
Wellington win the South Central region