Given that many schools only returned from Easter just over 4 weeks ago, there has been an amazing amount of cricket played in what has been an incredibly short half term. The dry weather has certainly helped, and even A levels and GCSEs, having their earliest ever start, have done little to dampen the enthusiasm for the game this season. Many schools are reporting that larger numbers are opting for cricket this summer, which only has to bode well for the future of the game in schools.
Runs continued to be accumulated in large numbers, with the bowlers suffering as a result. A quick scan through various schools’ Play Cricket sites reveal that many batters are approaching 500 runs for the season, very few bowlers appear to have taken more than 10 wickets in 1st XI cricket so far.
A special mention this week should go to Leo Selvey-Clinton of Tonbridge, who recorded two centuries last week, the first against Sevenoaks in the T20 (more of that later) and a second against Eastbourne on Sunday. In both innings, he was involved in double-hundred partnerships, which must be fairly unique.
In the Cricket Paper Girls 100 ball competition, there were some surprise results with a strong Repton side crashing out at the hands of King’s Worcester, while Barton Peveril remain as the only state school left in the competition after they beat Cranleigh and Dr. Challoner’s lost to Wellington College. Ampleforth defeated their Yorkshire rivals, Scarborough College , who many had tipped to do well in the competition. Some fascinating matchups will feature in the Round of 16, with 2023 semi-finalists Bede’s facing Barton Peveril and holders Ipswich travelling to Brentwood. Wellington will face Berkhamsted and Ampleforth, will face the Yorkshire Cricket College, a specialist FE college based at Headingly.
The Boys T20 is now reaching its conclusion in some regions, with the finals taking place later this week or just after half term in the four smallest (in terms of entrants) of the nine regions. In North London, Haileybury take on perennial finalists, Merchant Taylors’, while Whitgift take on Epsom in South London. The winners of each tie then play off to play the winners of the South East group that has reached its semi-final stage, with the tie of the round featuring one of the few remaining state schools, Simon Langton GS, who beat 2016 winners Hurstpierpoint in last week’s quarter-final.
Their opponents, Tonbridge, brushed aside Sevenoaks with Leo Selvey-Clinton (107*) and Rowan Brown (127*) setting a new competition partnership record of 242 (unbroken) for any wicket. This broke the record set by Malvern of 214* in 2023 (see last week’s blog.)
In the other tie, Bede’s take on Cranleigh, both of whom beat state school opposition. Bede’s accounted for Sussex rivals BACA, while Cranleigh squeezed past Surrey neighbours George Abbot by just 4 runs in a very close and tense finish. Both BACA and George Abbot have a cricket specialism and encourage pupils to enrol on their cricket programmes and are supported by their respective county clubs. In their 2nd year in the competition, they have both beaten several independent schools and have made many friends with their brand of cricket.
In the North West, Cheadle Hulme take on Bolton in the final later this week. Cheadle Hulme surprised 2022 finalists Myerscough College to win by just 6 runs, while Sedbergh and Bolton had identical scores after their 20 overs, but the latter prevailed having lost fewer wickets. The Yorkshire and North East regions has a regional finals day on Friday in York, with current champions St. Peter’s, Scarborough, Yorkshire Cricket College, and Queen Ethelburga’s playing for the right to face the winners of the North West final for a place in the semi-final to face the Midlands winner.
In the larger regions in terms of entrants, the regional quarter finals will take place this week, with the West Midlands and East region having reached this stage. The South West and South West too, will stage quarter finals.
Full results can be found below, and the latest draw can be found here
The Boys Under 17 competition is progressing at a little more sedate pace, as many of the participants are not encumbered by external exams and has the luxury of a September final.
In the second round, holders Epsom progressed at the expense of Trinity, while Rugby overpowered Repton in a high-scoring game where Omair Khan scored 109 for Repton and Rory Grant 103 for Rugby. Irish Under 19 Freddie Ogilby scored an unbeaten 124 for Shrewsbury, while his opening partner Liam Grindley scored 116 (with the pair adding 210 for the first wicket) as their side beat King’s Macclesfield by 100 runs. Stowe progressed to the quarter finals after beating last year’s beaten finalists and Rugby within the space of a couple of days.
Next week’s blog will appear on Monday as I will be away from my computer for a few days, enjoying a half-term break. Normal service will resume the following week.
Results
National s Boys Under 18 T20
South London
Semi-Final
Epsom 153-7, KCS Wimbledon 149-8
Dulwich 113-8, Whitgift 118-7
Final
Whitgift v Epsom Monday 2nd June
South East
Rnd 3
Bede’s 177-6, BACA 142-8
Hurstpierpoint 150-5, Simon Langton 151-2 (11.3)
Tonbridge 242-0 (R Brown 127*, L Selvey-Clinton 107*), Sevenoaks 86-8
Cranleigh 139-8, George Abbot 135-4
South West
Round 3
Exeter 133-8, Blundells 117-9
Truro and Penwith 181-3, Sir Thomas Rich’s GS 133-9
Sherborne 180-5, Bryanston 135-8
Sherborne180-5, Bryanston 135-8
Quarter-finals
Millfield v King’s Bruton
Taunton v Truro and Penwith
Exeter v King’s Taunton
Sherborne v Clifton
South Central
Round 3
Reading Blue Coat 94, Marlborough 95-6 (17)
Canford 127-7, Churcher’s 97-6
Oratory w/o Elizabeth
Abingdon 154-4, MCS 155-3 (17.4)
East
Round 2
Leicester GS 10, Oundle 102-3 (11.5)
New Hall 161-3 (T Robinson 100*), Ipswich 159-7
Yorkshire and North East
Round 2
Queen Ethelburga’s 181-4, Barnard Castle 110 (16.5)
Huddersfield New 183-3, QEGS Wakefield 135-1
Quarter Finals
Queen Ethelburga’s w/o Woodhouse Grove
Newcastle for Boys 46, Scarborough 50-1 (5.3)
Yorkshire Cricket College 161, Durham 114- 6
St Peter’s 137-9, Huddersfield New College 76
Semi Finals
Scarborough v Yorks Cricket College
St. Peter’s v Queen Ethelburga’s
23rd May
North London
Semi-final
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 122-5, Highgate 84-8
Forest 89-9, Haileybury 90-1 (14.1)
Final
Haileybury v Merchant Taylors’
Friday 23rd May
West Midlands
Round 3
Wrekin 156-9, Solihull 159-1 (11.2)
Denstone 168-4, Abbotsholme 111 (17.4)
RGS Worcester 182-6, Princethorpe 117-8
Rugby w/o Monmouth
North West
Semi-Finals
Cheadle Hulme 103-6, Myerscough 97-7
Bolton 127-7, Sedbergh 127-9
Bolton win by virtue of losing fewer wickets
Final
Cheadle Hulme v Bolton Friday 23rd May
The Cricket Paper Under 17 Cup
Round 2
Epsom 209-5 (30), Trinity 193-7
Denstone 214-7, Manchester GS 179
Shenfield 163-5 (30), Haileybury 165-3
Repton 286-7 (30) (O Khan 109), Rugby 288-6 (R Grant 103)
Stowe 187-6 (20), Solihull 169-7
Hampton 203-7, Harrow 180
Shrewsbury 296-2 (30) (F Ogilby 124*, L Grindley 116), King’s Macclesfield 196
Round 3
Stowe 160-9, Rugby 161-4
Friendlies
Tuesday 13th May (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
Charterhouse 152-8 , George Abbot 114-4
Wednesday 14th May (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
Bishop’s Stortford 159-5 , New Hall 161-3
Lord Wandsworth 126-7, Reed’s 130-3
Cokethorpe 130, Oratory 137-4
KE VI Stratford upon Avon 141-5, Warwick 142-3
The Crypt 111 , Pate’s GS 114-1
Maidstone GS 213-7 , Chatham & Clarendon GS
Forest 127-7, Leyton SFC 130-5
Salesian 59 (16 Overs), Gordon’s 64-2
Yarm 171-3 , Ampleforth 129-5
Skinners’ 139-9 , Oakwood Park GS 124-8
Brentwood 212-2 , Shenfield HS 193-6
Thursday 15 May 2025 (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
MCC 275-5 dec., Sedbergh 196-9
Mount Kelly 152- 5, Collegiate 110 (T20 SW Plate)
Dauntsey’s 2nd XI 113-7 , Wells Cathedral 114-1
Warminster 167, Prior Park 159-7
Wellington 133 , Haileybury 137-4
King’s Rochester 198-3, St. Edmund’s 155-9
Hurstpierpoint 93, Brighton 97-2
Friday 16th May (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
Mount Kelly 153-7 , Dauntsey’s 136-6
Wisbech Grammar 84, King’s Ely 85-9
The King’s , Gloucester 137-6 , Cheltenham 138-3
Churcher’s 128-8 , King Edward VI, Southampton 129-6
Exeter 148-5 , West Buckland 152-4
University (UCS) 96, Queen Elizabeth’s , Barnet 97-1
Aldenham 184-9 , Mill Hill & Belmont s 127-6
Winchester 184-4 , Embley 115-7
City of London Freemen’s 118-6, Dunottar 119-9
Bradford Grammar 189-7 , Ashville Harrogate 125
Saturday 17th May (50 overs unless otherwise stated)
The King’s , Macclesfield 170-9 (40), The Manchester Grammar 162-7
Glasgow Academy 178 – 3 (20), High of Glasgow 107-9
Haileybury 210, Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 210-8 (declaration match)
King’s Bruton 181-9 (30), Clayesmore 104
Kingswood 137 (30 Overs), Dean Close 141-7
Westminster 101-6 (20), Alleyn’s 66
Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (QEH) 154 (40), Wells Cathedral 79
The King’s , Gloucester 231-3 (30), Wycliffe 95
The Leys 279 (40), Royal Hospital 38
Wellington 149 (35), Taunton 152-3
Barnard Castle 154 , Durham Cathedral s Foundation 157-5
Canford 141 (45), Dauntsey’s 145-5
St Peter’s , York 253-9 (40), Ampleforth 217-4
Winchester 271-9, RGS, Guildford 144
Radley 172 , Marlborough 173-5
Cheltenham 134, St Edward’s , Oxford 140-2
Ipswich 138-7 (40), Felsted 139-6
Oakham 218 , Stamford 221-2
Clifton 265 , Millfield 225
Bedford 255-9, Oundle 256-8
Tonbridge 314-3 (G Sorrell 114, L Selvey-Clinton 123), Eastbourne 256
Wellington 258-7 Bradfield 250
Caterham 158-9 (35 The King’s , Canterbury 72
Epsom 216 , Cranleigh 77
Eton 172, Bede’s 164
Charterhouse 260 (O Gibson 122), Reed’s 261-1 (O Jones 140*)
KCS Wimbledon 244-4 (B Reffitt 103), St John’s , Leatherhead 175
King Edward’s , Birmingham 280-6 (45) (A Nahal 144), Trent 284-3 ( D Hatton-Lowe 143*)
Warwick 165-5 (20), King’s Worcester 147-6
Repton 232-9 Uppingham 227-9
Mount Kelly 314-6 (40) (A Syed 101), The Oratory 259-7 (A Hector 104)
Denstone 324-7 , Shrewsbury 239-7
Trinity , Croydon 171-9 St Paul’s 163
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 142 (31 Overs), Norwich 144-3
Malvern 331-5 (H Hardinges 134), Haberdashers’ Monmouth 207
Cheadle Hulme 201-8 (40), Lancaster Royal Grammar 205-4
Reigate Grammar 110 (40), St George’s Weybridge 57
Shiplake 62 , St Benedict’s 63-2
Woodhouse Grove 241 (45 Overs), QEGS Wakefield 148
Colfe’s 129, Eltham 133-1
Embley 98-7 , Ryde 99-4
Hymers 117-5 , Pocklington 118-2
Collegiate 171-4 (20), Bristol Grammar 145-5
Haberdashers’ Elstree s 210-6 , Berkhamsted 214-5
Sunday 18th May
Shrewsbury 247-8 (45), North Wales U19 239-8
Girls (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
The Cricket Paper U18 100 Ball
Round 2
Millfield w/o Blundell’s
Dr Challoner’s HS 65-6, Wellington 66-1 (43)
Stamford 66, Rugby 68-3 (58)
St. Edward’s 130-5, Solihull 132-1 (82)
Cranleigh 99-6, Barton Peveril 102-5
Reigate GS 68, Bede’s 69-1 (39)
Scarborough 102-8, Ampleforth 103-1 (49)
Repton 110-6, King ‘s Worcester 113-0 (59)
Oundle 70-6, Ipswich 74-1 (35)
Stockport GS 61, Denstone 64-0 (35)
Framlingham 105-7, Brentwood 106-4 (87)
Friendlies
Tuesday 13th May
Uppingham 137-6 , Leicester Grammar Trust 135-5
Wednesday 14th May
Tiffin Girls’ 109-6 , City of London Freemen’s 112-9
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 57-9 , Wymondham 59-0
Trinity , Croydon 97-4 , Woldingham 101-5
Reed’s 118-8 , Emanuel 121-1
Tudor Hall 70-9 (15 Overs), Kingham Hill 71-1
Thursday 15th May
Monkton Combe 91-6 (100 ball), King Edward’s , Bath 92-2
The Leys 165-5 , The Perse 160-5
Dean Close 40 , Wycliffe 41-1
Gordon’s 72-6 (100 ball), St John’s , Leatherhead 73-3
Oakham 138-8 , Stamford 91-8
Friday 16th May
Park View 68-4 , Sedbergh 72-1
Ibstock Place 105 , Kingston Grammar 106-0
Seaford 132-3 (100 ball), Brighton 133-3
Cheltenham 144-4 , The King’s , Gloucester 49
King’s Ely 132-3 , Wisbech Grammar 91-4
Saturday 17th May
Repton 195-2 (100 ball) (A Williams 124*), Uppingham 71
Seaford 133-5, Hurstpierpoint 80-8
Bradfield 120-5 (100 ball), Wellington 123-2
The Perse 165-1 , Forest 89-5
Norwich 215-0 , Oakham 79
Bishop’s Stortford 95-4 , Brentwood 96-5
The Leys 169-2 , Royal Hospital 142-7
Sherborne Girls 85-8 , King’s Bruton 86-5
St Edward’s , Oxford 150-3 , Cheltenham 145-5
Rugby 149-6 , Stowe 70
Marlborough 94-5 , The King’s , Worcester 95-3
Cranleigh 184-6 (30 Overs), Epsom 159
Ipswich 88-5 , Felsted 89-4
St. John’s Leatherhead 113-7, Charterhouse 113-8
Taunton 128-5 , Clifton 129-1
Tudor Hall 87-9 , Bloxham 91-3
Millfield 112-8 , King’s , Taunton 114-3
Haileybury 187-2 , Bedford Modern 98-8
The King’s , Canterbury 167-6 , Caterham 133-5
Monday 19th May
Gordon’s 108-7, George Abbot 109-3