Many schools finally played their first matches of the season over the last week, though heavy rain on Friday night put paid to many games in the south of the country and again on Sunday morning, for the Boys T20 in South London and in Sussex. With a mixed forecast albeit with warmer temperatures expected, prospects are not great for this week either.
At first glance, a lot of schools seem to be playing shorter format games this year, whether this is down to conditions, or a choice made because of parental or SLT pressure, I’ m not sure but it is certainly a trend I’ll be looking out for.
I was at Lord’s on Monday, to attend the National Heads of Cricket conference held on the top floor of the Warner stand. The conference was well attended, and the day was informative with many excellent and inspiring speakers including Mark Semmence, the headmaster of Repton, who is the cricket lead on the HMC Sports Committee. He used evidence gathered by the Schools Cricket Committee to show that cricket is in decline in schools with boy’s numbers down by a third in HMC School in the 11 years from 2011-2022, though this was tempered by the rise in the number of girls playing now. He also noted that 80% of all cricket played by schools was T20 format or shorter and only 2% was declaration cricket.
Richard Thompson, chair of the ECB was left in no doubt that the ECB needs be involved in Schools cricket by the audience especially in the wake of the ICEC report. Other speakers included Women’s World Cup Winners Caroline Foster and Lydia Greenaway and an insight into the England Under 19 set up by David Court.
The Boy’s T20 is rapidly whittling down from 215 schools to the last 64, hopefully by the time exam leave starts for many pupils. I was fortunate enough to watch a first-round group at Birkenhead School, where a former colleague is head. All four teams had been ravaged by the requirements of revision and end of year exams, with boys as young as Year 7 and 8, but with county experience, pressed into service. On a sunny but chilly day, I watched Wirral Grammar recover from 19-7 to post a match winning 109-9 against The Grange, while the hosts prevailed in a tense encounter over local rivals Merchant Taylors’. The final was a little easier for Birkenhead who chased down their target of 118 with thirteen balls to spare.
The highlight of the day in the North West was Adnan Miakhel, who in his two unbeaten innings on the day scored 142 runs from 61 balls including 13 fours and 11 sixes as his Rossall side swept past hosts AKS Lytham and Myerscough College, Preston.
There were also some surprises in the East regional competition as Easton College overcame Langley School in the Norwich derby, while Bishop’s Stortford High School squeezed past two-winners Felsted.
Planning for finals day is well underway and with the final at Lord’s on the 28th of June, it should make for a great day. Make a note of it in your diaries!
Some remarkable run scoring also took place at the weekend where Oundle’s Ralph Hayward broke the all-time school batting record with a score of 269* against Wellingborough. Ralph is a talented batter who is on the Northants EPP and still in Year 12. The previous record had stood for over 100 years and was set by P B Mair against Lord Lilford’s XI at the end of June 1923. Meanwhile for Cranleigh, Adam Thomas completed his second century of the season in a rain affected match against the MCC. Reaching the crease in the first over with the score 2-1 Adam, a Surrey Under 18 player, stroked a magnificent 151* from just 83 balls as the School cantered past the MCC’s total in just 28 overs. England Under 19 all-rounder Theo Wylie (150) was also in the runs for Shrewsbury as amassed a huge target for Repton, who fell well short.
The Boys Under 17 competition is also well under way and several centuries have been scored in that competition in the last week as some huge scores. Park View Academy from Chester Le Street despite travelling to Edinburgh, overwhelmed their hosts, Loretto, in amassing 339 in just 35 overs.
National Boys Under 18 T20
North East and Yorkshire
Round 1
Pocklington 57 (15.4), Queen Ethelburga’s 58-2 (6.3)
Yarm 88-9 (20), Barnard Castle 90-1 (11)
Bradford GS 92-6 (20), Giggleswick 86-7 (20)
Huddersfield New College 175-9 (20), Woodhouse Grove 179-5 (19.2)
North West
Round 1/2
Group B
AKS Lytham 90-6 (20), Rossall 91-0 (8.5)
Kirkham GS 123-6 (20), Myerscough Preston124-5 (?)
Playoff for 3rd/ 4th: Kirkham GS 116-6 (20), AKS Lytham 120-4 (18.3)
Final: Myerscough Preston 123-7 (20), Rossall 124-0 (12)
Rossall win the group
Group C
Wirral GS 109-9 (20), The Grange 82 (19.1)
Merchant Taylors’ 117-4 (20), Birkenhead 118-5 (19.5)
Playoff for 3rd/ 4th: MTS Crosby 188-4 (20), Grange 86 (18)
Final: Wirral GS 116-7 (20), Birkenhead 127-4 (17.5)
Birkenhead win the group
Group A (King’s Chester) and D (King’s Macclesfield) play on 1st May
Quarter Final Draw
Birkenhead v Sedbergh
Manchester GS v Manchester Myerscough
Group D winner v RGS Lancaster
Group A winner v Rossall
Matches to be played 1st or 8th May
South Central
Round 1
Reading Blue Coat 246-2 (20), King Edward’s, Southampton 121-9 (20)
St. Bart’s, Newbury 141-4 (20), Abingdon 143-0 (12.1)
Winchester 216-3 (20), Embley 72-5 (20)
South West
Tier 1
Clifton 173-5 (20), Millfield 174-4 (18.4)
Irls
Tier 2
Round 1
Mount Kelly 146-4 (20), Milton Abbey 95-8 (20)
Queen’s Taunton 108-6 (20), West Buckland 100-5 (20)
Monkton Combe 150-4, QEH 149-5 (20)
Warminster – 122-7 off 20, Wells Cathedral 125-1 off 16.5
Round 2
Sherborne170-5 (20), Exeter 137-7 (20)
Mount Kelly 146-4 (20), Milton Abbey 95-8 (20)
East
Round 1
Stephen Perse Foundation 87-8 (16), Culford 86-3 (16)
The Leys 139 -7(20), The Perse 78
Leicester GS 103-5 (20), Uppingham 104-1 (15)
*Loughborough GS 81-9 (20), Repton 83-4 (5.1)
The Priory Ruskin Academy 43 (15 ), *Oakham 44-1 (3 )
Oundle 125 (18.2), Stamford 126-4 (13.4)
Langley 142-4 (20 ), Easton , Norwich 147-2 (18.3)
*Felsted 100-9 (20), Bishop’s Stortford HS 103-8 (18.1)
West Midlands
Round 1
RGS Worcester 175-5 (20), Wolverhampton GS 82-8 (20)
KE VI Stratford Upon Avon 96-6, Coventry Foundation 97-9 (20)
Solihull 206-4 (20), Old Swinford Hospital 73-5 (20)
Newcastle Under Lyme 99 (17.1) Ellesmere 100-9 (20)
King’s Worcester 198-5 (20), Queen Mary’s GS Walsall 97-9 (20)
Wrekin w/o Sir Thomas Alleyne’s
South London
All games cancelled due to weather
South East
All games cancelled due to weather
Other Scores
North Wales U19 217-8 (50), Shrewsbury 219-8
Durham Cathedral 99 (20), Park View Academy 94
Chesham Grammar 113-7 (20 ), Aylesbury Grammar 105 (19 )
The Leys 148-3 (20 ), Ipswich 94-0 (20 )
Glenalmond 74 , Fettes 75-3 (10 )
Oundle 418-6 (50) (R Hayward 269*), Wellingborough 130
King’s Bruton 145-3 (20 ), Exeter 145 (20 )
The Oratory 160-5 (20 ), Reading Blue Coat 100-9 (20 )
MCC 200-6, Cranleigh (boys) 205-3 (A Thomas 151*)
*Cranleigh 201 (50 ), Tonbridge 49-0 rain stopped play
Latymer 106-5, St. Benedict’s 108-4
Portsmouth Grammar 127-8 (30 ), Canford 128-5
Sedbergh 150 (47), St Peter’s , York 151-2
Oakham 195-9 (50) , Uppingham 196-2
Wellington 162-7 (40), Radley 166-5
Bedford 117-8 (35), Rugby 119-4
Bradfield 266-5 (40), St Edward’s , Oxford 110
Epsom 179 (50 ), Hurstpierpoint 110-1 RSP
Brentwood 196-4 (30), Felsted 197-3
Winchester 254-6 (50), Harrow 255-5
Denstone 161 (40), Wrekin 90
Lord Wandsworth 127 , Charterhouse 128-2
Warwick 148 (40), Stamford 149-2
Brighton 216-7 (50), St Paul’s 101
Seaford 182-7 (40), King Edward VI, Southampton 70-2
The Perse 204-5 (40), RGS, Colchester 169-9
Shrewsbury 316-7 (50) (T Wylie 150), Repton 139
Reigate Grammar 276-4 (35 ), Alleyn’s 85
Shiplake 108-7 (20 ), UCS 73-8
Lancaster RGS 121 (45), Bolton 67
Newcastle-Under-Lyme 200-4 (35), Birkenhead 134
Pocklington 118 (30), QEGS Wakefield 75
Dollar Academy 86 (20), ESMS 88-2
George Watson’s 132-8 (20), The Edinburgh Academy 133-2
Churcher’s 151 (20) , Kingston Grammar 115
Loughborough Grammar 158-8 (20), Nottingham High 103-6
Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical 200-5 , King’s Rochester 140-4
Ashville Harrogate 84-8 (20), Giggleswick 85-2
Ryde with Upper Chine 157-6 (20), Embley 80
Beechen Cliff 66 (20), Kingswood 67-7
King Edward’s , Bath 119-8 (16 ), Prior Park 90
The King’s , Canterbury 204-7 (20), Kent College 97-6
Malvern 184-4 (50), King Edward’s , Birmingham 135
John Hampden Grammar 113-6 (20), Claires Court 114-4 (19 )
Fulham Boys 96-6 (20), St Paul’s 97-5
Alleyn’s 134-6 (20), City of London 97-5
RGS, Guildford 212-6 (20), Lord Wandsworth 129
Simon Langton 114-9 (20 ), Judd 116-4
Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical 136 (20 ), Oakwood Park Grammar 117-8
Shrewsbury 220-7 (30), Wrekin 215-8
Gosfield 143-7 (20 ), Royal Hospital 70
Aldenham 101-7 (20 ), Haileybury 102-1
Merchiston Castle 145-2 (20 ), Fettes 146-7
Sevenoaks 136-6 (20 ), St Lawrence 111-4
Bishop’s Stortford High 156-9 (20), Bishop’s Stortford 61
The Cricket Paper National Boys Under 17 Cup (35 Overs unless otherwise stated)
Westminster 270–3 (25), (Duguid 108*), Ibstock Place 67
Solihull 205–6 (20), KEVI Stratford 92–9
Shiplake 113–5 (20), Tiffin 115–2
St Edwards 195–3 (25) (Corbett 108*), New Hall 194–5 (Robinson 106*)
Bristol Grammar 122, King Taunton 123–4
Framlingham 162, Ipswich 147
Clifton 248–5 (Syed 127), Millfield 88
Bryanston 130, Sherborne 80
Bradfield 159–6, Oratory 80
Old Swinford Hospital 106–2 (20), QMGS Walsall 88–7
Christ Brecon 139–5 (20), Landaff Cathedral 96–9
Seaford 194–5 (30), Brighton 130
Oundle 1679 (30), Bedford 168–3
Harrow 260–5 (Snow 101), Gordon’s 113
Haileybury 111, Stowe 113–4
Berkhamsted 158–9 (24), Radley 149–9
Wymondham 41–7 (8) Gosfield 42 – 1
St. Peter’s 233–7 (31), Woodhouse Grove 54
Brentwood 202–9 (25), Shenfield 42
Park View Academy 339–6 (35), Loretto 60
Dulwich 156, Canterbury Academy 157–0
Tiffin 143–3 (20) Lord Wandsworth 145–2
Ampleforth 104, Queen Ethelburga’s 55
Wilson‘s 142–7 (25), KCS Wimbledon 145–5
Harrow 129–9, Hampton 130–3
Epsom w/o Lingfield
Girls (20 overs unless otherwise stated)
Cranleigh 92-6, Surrey 45-7 rain stopped play
Wellingborough 72 , Bedford Girls’ 73-0
King’s Bruton 145-4, Sherborne Girls 122-4
Repton 121-8, Shrewsbury 112-5
The Leys 104-7, Ipswich 106-6
St Edward’s, Oxford 137-5, Bradfield 121-8
Charterhouse 74-7. Emanuel 75-4
Sedbergh 124-0, St Peter’s, York 68
Berkhamsted 91-6, The Perse 86-9 (20 )
Kimbolton 34 , Stamford 35-0
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 96-6, Woodbridge 97-3
Seaford 107-5 , King Edward VI, Southampton 108-3
Churcher’s 97-8, Kingston Grammar 98-0
St Edward’s , Oxford 50-8 (100-ball), St Helen & St Katharine 53-2
Gordon’s 116-3, City of London Freemen’s 89-6
Hurstpierpoint 107-6, Bede’s 107-5
St John’s , Leatherhead 113-6 , Lord Wandsworth 101-6
The Cricket Paper National s Under 18 Girls Cup (100-ball)
Wellington 88-9, King’s Taunton 90-3
Stowe 64, St. Edward’s 68-0
Hurstpierpoint beat Seaford by 10 wkts
Culford 73, Wymondham 75-0
Canford w/o Bishop Wordsworth’s
Bishop’s Stortford 84-9, Haileybury 85-3
Blundell’s 165-8, Plymouth 166-3
Clifton 101-9, Bristol GS 46-9
RGS Worcester beat Malvern
Oundle 112-5, Uppingham 51-5
Leicester Grammar w/o Trent
Ipswich 104-5, Framlingham 82-4
Sherborne 38, Millfield 41
Llandaff Cathedral 140-3, Christ, Brecon 132-4
St. John’s Leatherhead 113-6, Lord Wandsworth 103-5
Bedford Modern 48, Rugby 49-1