With external exams starting in earnest last week, there was still a surprising amount of school cricket played last Saturday, though none on Sunday. The national cup competitions are all on course, with the regional quarter finals taking place in most areas this week and next, and everyone keen to take advantage of the good conditions.
I finally got to see some school cricket over the last week with a trip to Lord’s to watch Eton and Harrow on Thursday and a visit to Merchant Taylors’ Crosby to watch them take on Sedbergh in the T20 North West regional quarter finals.
Plenty of column inches have been written about the right and wrongs of staging Eton vs Harrow at Lord’s over the last two years, and I was interviewed last week by the cricket correspondent of a major regional evening paper on the subject, along with my thoughts on state school cricket.
Harrow always seemed to have the upper hand, and a more detailed account of the game can be found here, written by the match referee Mark Williams, who taught at both schools. In the end, the winning margin of 31 runs was less close than the scores might otherwise indicate.
Last Friday, I was fortunate to be invited to address the inaugural National Girls’ Head of Cricket Conference, held at Reed’s School in Surrey in their magnificent Cricket Centre. The day was organised by Cricket for Girls and ICE, and I was able to join both Lydia Greenaway and Charlotte Edwards for a very valuable conference. My contribution to the day was developing girls’ cricket in schools and guiding delegates through topics like club/school partnerships, girls’ cup competitions, getting into Wisden, and the Schools Cricket Committee. The day mainly consisted of practical coaching sessions delivered by the likes of Lydia, Charlotte and Matt Mason, the England bowling coach. The 50 or so delegates found the day useful and will hopefully be implemented on their return to their schools.
High scores this season in all forms of school cricket (as well as the IPL) have had me thinking about records, especially in the T20 competition. The record in the competition, as far as I can ascertain going back through the archives on this website, was Malvern’s 275-1 against King’s Worcester in the West Midlands regional quarter final in 2022. Oliver Cox, who was that season’s Wisden Schools Cricketer, scored an unbeaten 175* in that game.
With 19 innings so far exceeding 200 in this year’s competition (along with two more of 199), I was intrigued that I received two emails within 10 minutes of each other that reported scores that had exceeded the record above in friendly T20 fixtures.
Firstly, on Friday, St. Peter’s York scored 279-1 against a Yorkshire Schools Academy XI. The prolific Wills Bennison, fresh from a double hundred for Yorkshire 2nds against Warwickshire 2nds, scored 135*, while Alex Jenkins amassed 105* adding an unbroken 222 for the 2nd wicket. Jenkins then scored a mammoth 170 in his school’s defeat to Sedbergh on Saturday to become the player of the week.
Within a few minutes, I then received an email from Glasgow Academy informing me that they had also scored 279-3 against Hutcheson’s Grammar School. Their captain, Murray Bett, amassing a staggering 174! Whether these scores are a record in all school cricket, I have yet to ascertain, but I would invite schools to respond if they have done better.
With all cup competitions progressing well due to the fine weather, the T20 cup will stage regional quarter finals in most regions in the coming week, with some third-round ties being completed before the weekend. At this stage, around 50 schools are still left in the competition, with several state schools and colleges remaining and hoping to progress to the National rounds after half term. Three state schools, Simon Langton, BACA and George Abbot all face tough opposition in the quarter finals in the South East region, while Myerscough have progressed to the North West semi-final.
As mentioned earlier, I was able to catch the North West quarter final between Merchant Taylors’ Crosby and Sedbergh on Monday, which was bizarrely decided by Duckworth-Lewis. A sudden downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, drove the players and umpires alike from the field, with Sedbergh needing 3 to win and 8 balls remaining. Having only lost 4 wickets, Sedbergh were ahead on DLS, though with mystery spinner, Shiv Gautam, who finished top of last year’s Wisden bowling averages due to bowl the last over, any result was possible.
The Cricket Paper Girls 100 Competition, too, has reached its last 32 schools. Last year’s runners-up, Bradfield, brushed past Epsom, last year’s Under 17 champions, who had been tipped as a potential winner. Last year’s winners, Ipswich, easily accounted for Wymondham College, one of the few state school entrants in the competition. Two others, Barton Peveril College from Hampshire and Dr Challoner’s GS from Buckinghamshire, remain in the competition.
The Cricket Paper Boys Under 17 Cup is progressing at a more leisurely pace as without the obstacles of external exams and a September final, matches are taking place throughout the exam period. Many schools use this competition to develop younger players with boys as young as Year 8 turning out. Current holders Epsom easily defeated the magnificently named Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, while the 2024 beaten finalists Solihull beat Moulton College from Northamptonshire to set up a 2nd round tie with Stowe. Newcastle School for Boys too, are having good cup runs in both the Under 17 and T20, having beaten St Peter’s in the former, with considerable ease.
National Schools Boys Under 18 T20
South London
Rnd 2
Reigate GS 179-6, St George’s 172-5
Reed’s 136-4, Caterham 91-9
Trinity 151-3, Wilson’s 154-5
Langley Park 88-6, Eltham 89-0 (12.3)
Quarter finals
Whitgift 138-5, Reigate GS 92-8
Dulwich 157-4, Trinity 125-7
KCS Wimbledon 212-1 (A Fox 133*), Eltham 85-7
Epsom 257-1 (A Haxton 163*) Reed’s 124-9
South East
Rnd 2
Seaford 99, Bede’s* 101-5
Canterbury Academy 133, Simon Langton 134-3 (16.5)
Eastbourne College 172-7, BACA 173-4 (18.5)
Sevenoaks 153-6, Maidstone GS 108-8
Skinners’ 111-7, Tonbridge 112-5 (18)
George Abbot 127-8, RGS Guildford 81
Hurstpierpoint 141-7, Brighton 140-6
South West
Rnd 2
Queen’s Taunton 72-8, King’s Bruton 76-3
Wells Cathedral 166-6, Sir Thomas Rich’s GS 169-6 (20)
Richard Huish 152 -6, Blundell’s 157- 4 (18)
Truro and Penwith 213-4 (20 Overs), QEH 199-5
Exeter 152, Bristol GS 97(17.3)
Sherborne143-9, SGS College108
Rnd 3
Exeter 133-8, Blundells 117-9
South Central
Rnd 2
Marlborough 241-3 (L. Corbett 109), Shiplake 130-8
Lord Wandsworth 152, Elizabeth, Guernsey 155-4
Reading Blue Coat 160-8, Dauntsey’s 155-5
Abingdon 240-2, St Bartholomew’s 75-9
Barton Peveril 146-7, Churcher’s 147-5 (19.2)
MCS 247-5 (J. Laird 125), Radley 113
Canford School 192-3 (20 Overs), Ryde School with Upper Chine 85
Rnd 3
Reading Blue Coat 94, Marlborough 95-6 (17)
East Midlands and East Anglia
Rnd 2
Stamford154-5, The Perse 87
Stowe School 133-7 (20 Overs), Bedford School 135-8 (19 Overs)
Repton 157-9, Trent 161-7 (19.1)
Felsted 141 -5, The Leys 137-8
Norwich 158-5, Gresham’s 140-8
Framlingham w/o Langley
Yorkshire and North East
Rnd 2
Huddersfield New College186-5, Hill House109-5
Woodhouse Grove School 205-6,Ashville Harrogate 122
Hymers College 86-9, QEGS Wakefield 87-3
North London
Quarter finals
Forest 169-7, RGS High Wycombe 112
Brentwood 149-3, Merchant Taylors’ 151-7 (19.5)
Berkhamsted 151-4, Haileybury 152-4 (18.2)
St. Albans 145-6, Highgate 149-2 (19.3)
West Midlands and Wales
Rnd 2
Solihull 232-2 (R Chahal 100*), Wolverhampton GS 93 (16.2)
Rugby 207-2 (J. Strydom 126*), Warwick 115-7
RGS Worcester 248-3 (G Heywood 113), Old Swinford Hospital 125 (18.5)
Monmouth 224-4, Christ College Brecon 154-2
Princethorpe w/o Prince Henry’s
Ellesmere 70, Denstone 71-0 (6)
Abbotsholme 182-4, Newcastle Under Lyme 178-7
Wrekin College w/o Painsley High School
North West
Quarter finals
Cheadle Hulme 100, Kirkham GS 97-9
Bolton 124-7, Lancaster RGS 107-8
MGS 144-7, Myerscough 148-3 (14.0)
MTS 129-5, Sedbergh 127-4 (18.4) RSP
Sedbergh win on DLS
Semi-finals
Sedbergh v Bolton (16th May 11.30am)
Cheadle Hulme v Myerscough (14th May 2pm)
The Cricket Paper Boys Under 17 (35 Overs unless otherwise stated)
Scarborough 226-7 (35 ), Huddersfield New College 183
Manchester GS 315-3 (S Murali 115), Stockport GS 160-7
Stowe 277-2, Leicester GS 84
Ipswich 227-4 (30 ), New Hall 208-9
Newcastle-Under-Lyme 153, Shrewsbury 157-4
Rugby w/o Bedford Modern
Culford 206, Framlingham 207-4
St. Peter’s 198-8 (25), Newcastle Boys 199-4
Bishop’s Stortford 108-9 (20), Bedford 109-3
Moulton 166, Solihull 169-2
Gresham’s w/o Wymondham
King’s Macclesfield 281-7 (30), Wrekin 208
Lord Wandsworth 149-9, KCS Wimbledon 151-4
Monmouth w/o Clifton
Plymouth w/o Embley
Seaford 211-7, Eastbourne 215-4
Denstone 214-7, Manchester GS 179
Other games
Tuesday 6th May (20 Overs unless otherwise stated)
Malvern 168-5 , Repton 133
Moulton 195-6 , Princethorpe 114
Haileybury 202-6 , Felsted 181
King’s Ely 120 , Woodbridge 89
Worth 121-3 , Lancing 97
Coopers Company & Coborn 82 (16 Overs), New Hall 85-2
Winchester 287-6 (S Morgan 107) , Eton 277-9
Wellington 187, Harrow 184
Wednesday 7th May (20 Overs unless otherwise stated)
Forest 177-5 , Chigwell 161-5
Sir Thomas Rich’s 216-3 , The Crypt 139-7
Burford 98, Bloxham 99- 2
Colfe’s 164-2 , City of London 83-7
St Benedict’s 151-6 , Greenford HiS 98
Skinners’ 117-4 , Maidstone GS 118-1
The Judd 118-7 , Oakwood Park GS 122-1
The Canterbury Academy 152-6 , Chislehurst and Sidcup GS 55
Austin Friars 185-3 , Trinity , Carlisle 143
Wolverhampton GS 188-2 , Old Swinford Hospital 142-8
Dunottar 190-4 , Halliford 185-6
Dr Challoner’s GS 164 , Watford GS for Boys 148-3
KE VI Camp Hill 175-5 , KE VI Five Ways 161-5
St Peter’s, York 266-7 (40), Lincolnshire CCC U18’s 268-8
Thursday 8th May (20 Overs unless otherwise stated)
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 162-4 , Culford 160-6
King Edward’s , Bath 149-9 (100 ball), Prior Park 155-3
Cranleigh 144-8 , Charterhouse 145-2
Strathallan 220-3 , Dollar Academy 108
Wellington 215-3 , Clayesmore 149-6
London Oratory 90-7 , Westminster 91-5
Harrow 282-8 (55), Eton 251 (at Lord’s)
Bede’s 204-4 (30), Hurstpierpoint 133
Eastbourne 155-8 , Brighton 158-4
Friday 9th May (20 Overs unless otherwise stated)
St John’s , Leatherhead 148-5 , Dunottar 117-7
Eltham 152-6 , Alleyn’s 45
Maidstone GS 158-2 (100 ball), King’s Rochester 102
The Oratory 121 , Reading Blue Coat 125-2
St Peter’s, York 279-1 (W Bennison 135, Jenkins 105– 222 run partnership for the 2nd wicket), Yorkshire Schools Academy XI 151
Saturday 11th
Ryde with Upper Chine 113-5 (20 ), Churcher’s 118-4
Shiplake 121-9 (20 ), Halliford 100-6
Haberdashers’ Monmouth 108, The King’s , Worcester 109-3
Wellington 260-8 , Whitgift 232
Shrewsbury 297, Bromsgrove 213
Haileybury 244-6 dec (L. Davis 100*), Bedford169-8
RGS, Guildford 248, Hurstpierpoint 152
Berkhamsted 230-9, St Albans 97
Ipswich 131-8 (40 ), Norwich 134-6
Merchant Taylors’ , Northwood 234-9 , St Paul’s 140
Dulwich 276-9 (E Brydon 143), KCS, Wimbledon 277-5
Epsom 203-8 , Seaford 204-6
Charterhouse 104, Brighton 105-7
Sir Thomas Rich’s 182-9 (40 ), King Edward’s , Birmingham 142
Trinity , Croydon 216 (40 ), St George’s Weybridge 212
Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (QEH) 112-5 (20 ), Pate’s GS 97-9
Reigate GS 158-3 (20 ), Sutton Valence 155-3
King’s Ely 232-4 (35 ), Kimbolton 220-7
Warwick 312-7 (40 ) (M Bolam 156*), Loughborough s Foundation 77
The Perse 238-4 (30 ), Chigwell 89
Watford GS for Boys 160 (35 ), Bedford Modern 161-7
Winchester 127, Marlborough 128-6
St Peter’s, York 278-7 (A Jenkins 170), Sedbergh 280-8 (49.2)
Glasgow Academy 279-3 (20) (M Bett 174), Hutcheson’s GS 115-7
Sherborne 312-3 (F O’Connell 110*), Sherborne Pilgrims 299-9
Dauntsey’s 265-6 (40) (O Butterworth 110, T Campbell 101), Lord Wandsworth 238-3
Wellington 260-8, Whitgift 232
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 234-9, St Paul’s 140
Abingdon 233, Cheltenham 221-6
Monday 12th May
Clifton 104, Millfield 107-6
Girls Cricket
Cricket Paper U18 100 Ball
Stockport GS 144-3, Wrekin 33-7
Ipswich 141-1, Wymondham 74-8
Oundle 57, Stamford 59-3 (48)
Bede’s 117-9, Hurstpierpoint 118-6 (95)
Bradfield 141-4, Epsom 104-8
Ampleforth 87-5, Durham 85
Lord Wandsworth 76-4 , Cranleigh 77-1 (62)
Barnard Castle 68 , RGS, Newcastle 68-3
The King’s , Canterbury 108-5, Eastbourne 109-7
Reigate GS 180-0, Sutton Valence 92-5
Kimbolton 184-7, King’s Ely 82-8
School Sport Magazine U18 Cup
1st round
Solihull bt Bromsgrove
Kings Worcester 202-2, Malvern 125-4
St Edward’s Oxford 259-1 (A Diab 107), Cranford 46
Dr Challoner’s HS bt Wycombe HS
Berkhamsted bt St Margaret’s
Leys 205-4, Kimbolton 102-6
Norwich 99-2, Gresham’s 97-7
Langley Park for Boys bt Sevenoaks
Alleyn’s bt Colfe’s by ten wickets
Canford 145-8, Sherborne Girls 70
Redmaids HS bt Cathedral Cardiff
Lord Wandsworth bt Churcher’s
St Swithun’s 233-1 (E Bristol 107), Portsmouth HS 72
2nd Round
Scarborough 202-6, Barnard Castle 64
Repton bt Stamford
Abbotsholme 113-0, Denstone 114-0
Moreton Hall 99-5, Ellesmere 104-1
St Edward’s Oxford 164-1, St Helen & St Katharine 132-6
Berkhamsted 135-3, Haileybury 59
Culford 14, Ipswich 15-0
Eastbourne 107-5, Brighton 109-1
Bede’s 117-9, Hurstpierpoint 118-6
Cranleigh 204-7, Kingston GS 186-3 (N Ivory 132no)
Taunton 208-5, King’s Bruton 111-7 by 97 runs
Clifton beat Collegiate
Redmaid’s HS beat Dauntsey’s
St Mary’s Calne 105-8, Godolphin 106-9
Friendlies (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
Wednesday 7th May
Woodhouse Grove 102-8 (16 Overs), Hill House 103-9
Bloxham 112-7 , Kingham Hill 100-6
Thursday 8th May
Wellington 131-0, St John’s , Leatherhead 115
Friday 9th May
Felsted 115-7 (100-ball), Haileybury 116-8
The Edinburgh Academy 81, Erskine Stewart’s Melville s 83-2
Millfield 161-6, Blundell’s 92
King’s , Taunton 146-8 , Blundell’s 129-5
Saturday 10th May
Berkhamsted 136-5 , The Perse 95-9
Malvern 200-2 , Dean Close 173-4
St John’s, Leatherhead 161-7, Hurstpierpoint 75
Ipswich 151-3 , Norwich 130-3
Clifton 102-8, Cheltenham 103-9
Sherborne Girls 129-4, Monkton Combe 99-6
Oundle 57, Stamford 59-0
Marlborough 39, Canford 40-2
Shrewsbury 192-1 , Bromsgrove 61-9
Felsted 158-8 , The Leys 159-4
Seaford 155-7 (30), Epsom 156-2
Caterham 135-1 , Sevenoaks 101
Wellington 166-2 , St George’s Weybridge 138-5
Charterhouse 115-3 , Brighton 116-1
Taunton 154-6 , Millfield 155-3