Spring finally arrived for much of the country last week as Saturday saw the warmest day of the year so far in many parts. It is then immensely frustrating that so much school cricket, even on Saturdays is played as a shorter format game. When the Schools Cricket Committee conducted a survey in the Autumn of 2022, it revealed that around 80% percent of cricket being played in schools (including those very traditional schools) was T20 or shorter formats. Declaration cricket was being played in just a handful of schools and only then invariably against adult sides like the MCC and Free Foresters. My predecessor, Douglas Henderson was a great advocate of declaration cricket and often wrote about its virtues in this column.
Already there are one or two front runners emerging for the coveted Wisden Schoolboy Cricketer of the year. Cranleigh’s Adam Thomas has over 500 runs including 3 hundreds, while Shrewsbury’s England Under 19 all rounder Theo Wylie has batted 3 times and has nearly 350 runs including 2 centuries. It seems a pity with the rise of the shorter format games in schools along with ECB fast bowling directives means the days of a bowler taking 50+ wickets in a school season are probably long gone. The last player to achieve this feat was Charterhouse’s Prince Singh, a seam bowler, who took 58 wickets in 2018.
The National Boys T20 has reached the quarter final stages in most regions with two of last year’s finals day qualifiers crashing out of the competition. Last year’s runners up Tonbridge lost to both Eastbourne and King’s Canterbury in the SE regional semi-final group, while last year’s semi-finalists Manchester Grammar fell at the hands of Myerscough College, Manchester who were the runners up in 2022. However, with an uncertain forecast this week, progress in this and the other national competitions may well stall, especially with Masters in charge having to deal with the competing demands of exams, parents and SLTs. All I ask is for those schools still involved to be flexible.
Finally, the Eton v Harrow fixture took place at Lord’s last Friday and was largely unreported by the media, especially after the controversy the fixture courted after the MCC’s decision in 2022 to move the game away from the Home of Cricket. Last year’s ICEC report further diminished the importance of the fixture in the Lord’s calendar. Its days however are likely to be numbered given that the MCC has given the fixture and the varsity match (now a T20) a stay of execution until 2028. The match itself resulted in a win for Harrow by 91 runs.
Results
National Schools Boys Under 18 T20
South Central
Round 1
Dauntsey’s w/o Shiplake
Bradfield w/o Churcher’s
Round 2
*Marlborough 128 (19), Reading Blue Coat 50 (15.3)
*Portsmouth GS 88-6 (20), Canford 92-2 (16.3)
Quarter finals
MCS v Canford
Teddies v Marlborough
Group 1 winner v Wellington
Winchester v Best round 2 loser on NRR (Currently Reading Blue Coat)
South West
Tier 1
Taunton 139-7 (20), Clifton 132-9 (20)
Millfield 167 (20 ), King’s, Taunton 163-5 (20 )
Tier 2
Round 2
Clayesmore 179-6 (20), Monkton Combe 91(17)
Queen’s Taunton 67, Wellington 68-1
Round 3
South Gloucestershire & Stroud 169-3 (20), Blundell’s 157-9 (20)
King’s Bruton 186-4 (20), Mount Kelly 79-6 (20)
East
Round 1
Gosfield 97-6 (20), New Hall 83-8 (20)
Round 2
The Leys 88 (19.3), Norwich 90-5 (16.1)
Uppingham 122-8 (20), Oakham 124-2 (15.2)
Moulton 123-9 (20), Stamford 127-3 (11.1)
Ipswich 176-3 (20), Easton 66 (?)
Trent 126-6 (20), Repton130-3 (14)
Gosfield 98-8 (20), Bishop’s Stortford HS 99-8 (18.3)
Gresham’s 233-3 (20 ), Framlingham 155-7 (20 )
West Midlands
Round 2
Wycliffe 62 (17.2), Monmouth 66-1 (14.2)
RGS Worcester 163-7 (20), Bromsgrove 65 (18.1)
Ellesmere 112-8 (20), Wrekin 116-3 (13)
Rugby 202-0 (20 ) (J Jacob 102*), Coventry Foundation 77-7 (20)
North London
Round 3
Haileybury 129-8 (20), Forest 122-8 (20)
Semi finals
RHS High Wycombe v Merchant Taylors’
Berkhamsted v Haileybury
South London
Round 1
Dulwich 185-6 (20), Alleyn’s 106-7 (20)
Round 2
Reed’s 102 (19.2), Epsom 103-2 (10.5)
Trinity 132-4 (20), Whitgift 137-3 (16.1)
KCS Wimbledon 186-9 (20), Emanuel 93-5 (20)
North West
Round 2
King’s, Macclesfield 207-5 (20), Cheadle Hulme 155-8 (18.3)
Round 3
Bolton 114-8 (20), *Rossall 115-2 (19)
*Birkenhead 98-9 (20), Sedbergh 99-1 (15.4)
*King’s Macclesfield 119-7 (20), Lancaster RGS 124-4 (18)
*Manchester GS 152-6 (20), Myerscough, Manchester 156-5 (19)
Semi-finals
Rossall v Sedbergh
RGS Lancaster v Myerscough, Manchester
Yorkshire and North East
Round 1
Yorkshire Cricket 189-3 (20), Hymers 86-6 (20)
Round 2
St Peter’s, York 161 (19.5), Queen Ethelburga’s 105 (18.5)
Barnard Castle 102-8 (20), Newcastle for Boys 105-4 (14.5)
GSAL 85 (19.1),, Woodhouse Grove 86-2 (10)
South East
Round 2
RGS, Guildford 145-9 (20 ), George Abbot 71 (17 )
Semi Final Group A
The King’s , Canterbury 167-6 (20 ), Eastbourne 171-2 (18 )
The King’s , Canterbury 142-7 (20 ), Tonbridge 136-9 (20 )
Eastbourne 190/5 off 20, Tonbridge 189/9 off 20
Eastbourne qualify for the final
Semi Final Group B
Cranleigh, BACA, RGS Guildford
Other Results
Bede’s 132-6 (100-ball), Worth 74-9
Bishop’s Stortford 104-8 (20 ), The Perse 105-0
Gosfield 97-6 (20), New Hall 83-8
The King’s , Grantham 118-3 (20 ), Loughborough Grammar 119-3
Haileybury 247-3 dec., Bishop’s Stortford 85
Sherborne Pilgrims 302 -7 (50), Sherborne 277-9
*Harrow 199 (50 ), Cranleigh 200-6
XL 73, King’s Worcester 75-1
Monmouth 110-10 (50), King’s Worcester 116-2
Harrow 321-5 (55 ) (J. Madan 110), Eton 230 (Match played at Lord’s)
MCC 225-8 (50), *Harrow 226-9
Fettes 168-6 (20), Strathallan 62-9
King’s Bruton 125-5 (30 ), Bryanston 126-2
Bloxham 102-9 (20 ), Malvern 103-5
Blundell’s 200-9 (40 ), Exeter 201-4
Westminster 235-4 (20 ), Chigwell 86-5
Dean Close 140 (30 ), The King’s , Gloucester 117-7
Milton Abbey 121 (25 , Sherborne 2nd XI 124-2
Latymer Upper 124-7 (20 ), Kingston Grammar 104-7
The Leys 181-7 (40), Felsted 184-4
St Peter’s , York 232-8 (40 ), Sedbergh 131
St Edward’s 165, Stowe 167-6
Sevenoaks 168-7 (35 ), Caterham 133-9
Hereford Cathedral 140 (30), Wycliffe 104
Worth 272-0 (35 ), Christ’s Hospital 162-8
St Benedict’s 136-8 (30 ), Pangbourne 74
Epsom 230-6 (45) , Seaford 162
Rugby 125 (50), Oundle 105
Bedford 165 (50 ), Uppingham 168-1
The King’s , Canterbury 213-7 (45 ), Skinners’ 63
Winchester 181 (50 ), Marlborough 184-7 (44 )
Clifton 248-5 (50 ), Taunton 249-7
Free Foresters 220-3 dec., Clifton 182-7
King’s , Taunton 210 (50 ), Millfield 213-7
Norwich 312-3 dec., RHS 139
St Edward’s , Oxford 165 (35 ), Stowe 166-6
Abingdon 258-6 (55 ), Cheltenham 166-7
Denstone 264-2 (50) , Oakham 240
King Edward VI, Southampton 68 (20) , The Portsmouth Grammar 70-4
Brighton 186 (50 ), Charterhouse 172
Berkhamsted 222-6 dec. St Albans 157-5
St Paul’s 146 (50 ), Merchant Taylors’ , Northwood 147-7
Haberdashers’ Monmouth 110 (40 ), King’s , Worcester 116-2
Wellington 235-9 (50 ), Whitgift 140
Bromsgrove 206-7 (50), Shrewsbury 209-1 (T. Wylie 144*)
Trinity , Croydon 198 (40 ), St George’s Weybridge 175-9
Lancaster RGS 229-5 (40), Birkenhead 68
Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital 127-7 (20 ), Pate’s Grammar 89-9
St John’s , Leatherhead 162-3 (20 ), City of London Freemen’s 111-4
King’s , Macclesfield 260-5 (40 ), Newcastle-Under-Lyme 202-9
Brentwood 218-9 (40 ), Ipswich 64
Woodhouse Grove 298-7 (40 ), Pocklington 251-8
The Manchester Grammar 202-8 (40), Bolton 145
Wellingborough 154 (40 ), Kimbolton 156-6
QEGS Wakefield 154-6 (30) , Bradford Grammar 69
Ryde with Upper Chine 102-7 (20), Churcher’s 103-4
Clifton High 134-3 (20 ), Collegiate 2nd XI 138-0
Merchiston Castle 114-9 (20 ), Edinburgh Academy 115-8
*Loretto 157 – 6 (20), High School of Glasgow 153 – 3
Eltham 162-2 (20 ), Alleyn’s 146-7
Bedford Modern 60-8 (100-ball) , The Perse 61-2
Royal Hospital 96-9 (20), St Joseph’s , Ipswich 97-1
Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical 110-6 (20), Maidstone GS 111-5
Seaford 155-1 (100 ball), Lancing 83-7
Bede’s 180-7 (30 ), Hurstpierpoint 171-8
Maidstone Grammar 187-6 (30 ), Chislehurst and Sidcup GS 49
Abingdon 158-7 (20 ), Stowe 159-5
Pangbourne 93-9 (20 ), Cokethorpe 94-2 (16 )
Fulham Boys 100-5 (15 ), London Oratory 99-6
Greenford HS 62-8 (20 ), St Benedict’s 64-4
Prince Henry’s HS 106 (20 ), Sir Thomas Rich’s 107-4
Gordon’s 227-6 (20 ), Ibstock Place 78
Warwick 115-9 (20 ), King Edward VI , Stratford 104-8
Watford Grammar for Boys 227-6 (20 ), The Windsor Boys’ 78
The Latymer 134-6 (20 ), Queen Elizabeth’s , Barnet 133-7
King Henry VIII 116-6 (20 ), Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 97-8
City of London 107-3 (20 ), Colfe’s 108-5
George Abbot 126-3 (20 ), Peter Symonds’ 121-6
Huddersfield New 196-9 (40 ), Worksop 197-3
Canford 150-2 (100-ball), Clayesmore 36
Bishop’s Stortford 104-8 (20 ), The Perse 105-0
Bede’s 139-5 (16 ), Worth 52-7
Uppingham 122-8 (20 ), Oakham 124-2
George Watson’s 107-6 (20 ), The Edinburgh Academy 109-3
Merchiston Castle 106 (29 ), Loretto 81
The King’s , Grantham 118-3 (20 ), Loughborough Grammar 119-3
The Cricket Paper National Boys Under 17 Cup (35 Overs unless otherwise stated)
Winchester 135, Marlborough 136 – 1
Seaford beat Eastbourne by 10 wickets
Newcastle Under Lyme beat Painsley by 10 wickets
Myerscough (Old Trafford) 245–7, Manchester Grammar 118
Kirkham Grammar 160–3, Sedbergh 161–2
Berkhamsted 202–6 (30), St Edwards 189
Bede’s 202–7 (30), Canterbury Academy 205–2
King Worcester 185–1 (20), Monmouth 124
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 179–8 (30), Brentwood 138–8
Denstone w/o Old Swinford Hospital
Trinity 178–4 (25), Caterham 134
Framlingham 155, Langley 158–7
Forest 171–5 (25), Westminster 117
Wirral Grammar beat Stockport Grammar by 10 wickets
Blundell’s 225, Christ Brecon 72
The Cricket Paper National Girls U18 100-Ball
Sedbergh beat Stockport by 10 wickets
King’s Taunton 78 Plymouth 79-7
Stamford 116–3, Oundle 118–6
Lester Grammar 36, Repton 38–0
Eastbourne w/o Brighton
Berkhamsted 123–3, Sir Henry Floyd GS 91–6
Ibstock Place 67–8, Trinity 68–2
Rugby 92–9, Repton 95–4
Solihull 148–3, RGS Worcester 67–9
Berkhamsted walkover Haileybury
Other Scores (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
King’s Bruton 105-5, Bryanston 106-5
Hurstpierpoint 128-0 , St John’s , Leatherhead 117-6
The Leys 153-5 , Felsted 94-6
Fettes 97-6 (15 ), Strathallan 54-6
Kimbolton 104-6 , King’s Ely 68-8
Rugby 191-3 , Oundle 109-3
Marlborough 152-7 , Canford 92
Millfield 206-4 , Taunton 180-6
Norwich 112-4 , Royal Hospital 93
Seaford 67-5 , Epsom 69-5
Monkton Combe 43 (16 ), Sherborne Girls 44-0
St Helen & St Katharine 110-9 (16 ), Bradfield 11-3
Wellington 142 (30), Lord Wandsworth 80
The King’s , Worcester 126-9, Haberdashers’ Monmouth 123-7
Bedford Modern 127-4 (30 ), The Perse 128-2
Cathedral Llandaff 168-4 , Hereford Cathedral 159-4
Oakham 145-2 , Leicester Grammar 53-9
Stowe 49 (12 ), Bedford Modern 50-0
Malvern 157-1 , Dean Close 95-9
St Mary’s Cambridge 111 , Stephen Perse Foundation 112-1
Clifton 192-2 , Collegiate 77-9
Scarborough 185-3 , Woodhouse Grove 85
Ibstock Place 67-6 (15 ), Trinity , Croydon 68-2
Shrewsbury 158-8 (30 ), Sedbergh 86
The Leys 147-5 , Kimbolton 52
Culford 166-2 , St Joseph’s , Ipswich 116-6
Leicester Grammar 36 , Repton 38-0