This time last year I was reporting on games being washed out and those that were played being restricted to the South East and East Anglia. In contrast, this year, with a warm and dry spring, the season has started with a bang as the batters have filled their boots on flat pitches and fast outfields.
Middlesex’s Caleb Falconer’s 201* topped the charts this week against Gloucestershire’s Under 18s on Sunday, while Aadityya Bhandarkar top scored with 165* for Merchant Taylors’ Northwood in their home match against Whitgift, in a game which yielded over 680 runs, for whom Doug Beckett scored 120. Ralph Hayward, who broke the individual batting record for Oundle last year, scored 154 against Bedford Modern and Eden Scott scored 141* for Haleybury in their win over Haberdasher’s.
Ali Badge’s 137 in Trent College’s win at Manchester Grammar was followed up by him taking 5-24. In all, 10 centuries were reported over the last week and if the weather stays fine, the batters could be in for a bumper harvest in 2025.
The various cup competitions started in last week with many first round games expected to be completed by the weekend. In the National Boys U18 T20, there were once again some surprises as some of the 60 or so state schools participating shocked their fee-paying counterparts. In the South East, Canterbury Academy and BACA both blew away their opponents by 9 wickets to reach the 2nd round, while George Abbot School, Guildford beat St John’s Leatherhead by virtue of losing fewer wickets.
The George Abott side after thier win against St. John’s Leatherhead
In the South West region, Richard Huish College from Yeovil beat Plymouth College, while Truro and Penwith College easily accounted for Mount Kelly College. In the North London region, RGS High Wycombe shocked Berkhamsted, who had been regional runners-up for the last two seasons. However, Forest School’s Essex Academy batter Areeb Rashid scored 138* in the narrow victory against Shenfield High School and 111* against Brentwood in the 2nd round later in the day to take his school through to the regional quarter finals. In trhe North East, Huddersfield New College were victors over Leeds Grmmar.
In the Boys Under 17 cup, there were a few more surprises as Richmond, a state school from North Yorkshire, who returned to the competition this year after a long gap, defeated their near neighbours, Barnard Castle, while Newcastle School for Boys beat the highly fancied Park View Academy of Sport. Tiffin, a state grammar school from Surrey, accounted for Westminster School to reach the next round.
In the handful of games played in the Girls Under 18 100-ball, a strong Repton side easily overcame Trent College, while highly fancied Scarborough College easily beat Hymers College. More games are scheduled in the coming week.
Results -week commencing 21st April
National School Boys U18 T20
South London Preliminary Rnd
Halliford 63, Kingston GS* 67-3
Rnd 1
Alleyn’s 33, Eltham 37-0
Emanuel 100-9, Caterham 104-9
South East Rnd 1
Seaford * 244-1 (S. Suddahazai 121*), St Oscar Romero Catholic 58-5
Ashford 113-8, Canterbury Academy 114-1
Simon Langton 249-5 (S. Camp 105), King’s Canterbury 82
King Edward’s Witley 134-9, Gordon’s 127-8
George Abbott 115-5, St John’s Leatherhead 115-7
Williamson’s 144-7, Maidstone GS 146-6
Dunottar 91-7, Reigate GS 93-0
Ardingly 120-7, Brighton 123-2
Rnd 2
Seaford 99, Bede’s* 101-5
South West Rnd 1
Richard Huish 143-9, Plymouth* 104-9
Truro and Penwith 151-8, Mount Kelly* 111-7
Sherborne 128-6, Wellington 98-9
Bryanston w/o Monkton Combe – withdrew
Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital 157-5, Clifton High 98-7
Exeter 111-9, Launceston 80 all out
Collegiate 146-6, King’s, Bruton 147-3
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
East Rnd 1
Stamford w/o Wisbech GS (withdrew)
Norwich 117-8, Wymondham 88-6
Easton 117-8, Langley 119-4
Trent w/o Priory Ruskin Academy
Leicester GS 150-5, Oakham 109
Moulton College 114-8, Stowe 115-0
New Hall 170-4, Gosfield 130-6
Yorkshire, North East and Scotland East Rnd 1
Bradford GS 127-6, Woodhouse Grove 131-4
Barnard Castle 177-9, Loretto 114-5
Harrogate GS 143-5, Ashville 148-2
Huddersfield New College 134-9 , Grammar School at Leeds 113-7
North London
Group 1 held at Haileybury
Hitchin 92-6, St Benedict’s 98-4
Haileybury v UCS – Haileybury walkover.
Final
Haileybury 199-7, St Benedict’s 125-8
Winner: Haileybury
Group 3 held at Forest
Forest 214-2 (A Rashid 138*), Shenfield HS 209-8
Chigwell 113-8, Brentwood 118-2
Final
Forest 214-2 (A Rashid 111*), Brentwood 201/7
Winner: Forest
Group 4 held at Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted 231-6 ( F Webster 101*), William Perkin 100-8
RGS High Wycombe 171-4 (M Evans 102*), John Hampden GS 115
Final
RGS High Wycombe 181-8, Berkhamsted 153-9
Winner: Royal Grammar High Wycombe
Group 5 held at Haberdashers
Haberdashers 118, Highgate 119-2
Parmiter’s 137-5, QE Barnet 91
Final
Parmiter’s 146-7, Highgate 149-3
Winner: Highgate
Group 2 to be held at St Albans on 4th May
West Midlands Rnd 1
Shirelands Collegiate 33, Wolverhampton GS 36-0
Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr 86-6, Monmouth 90-0
The Cricket Paper Boys U17 Cup (35 overs unless otherwise stated)
Christ Brecon 38 (20), Monmouth* 39-0
Hampton* 237-2 (30), Shiplake 60
King’s Macclesfield* 97 – 9 (25), Birkenhead 69 -7
Richmond 118 (35), Barnard Castle* 53
Stowe 224-9 (35 ), The King’s , Worcester 185
Gosfield 169-9 (25 ), Ipswich 169-6 – Ipswich win
Newcastle Boys 174, Park View Academy 140
Harrow 289-5 (V. Patel 109), Watford Boys GS 175
Hampton 237-2, Shiplake 60
Tiffin 121-7 (20 ), Westminster 49
Wirral Grammar for Boys 157-8 (35 ), Denstone 161-6
Wilson’s 172-8 (35 ), Lord Wandsworth 176-4
The Manchester Grammar 315-3 (S Murali 115), Stockport Grammar 160-7
Repton 231-5, Trent 129
St Edward’s w/o RGS High Wycombe
Friendlies (50 overs unless otherwise stated)
Kent EPG XI 197 (45), Tonbridge* 201-5
Tonbridge* 180-6 (20), Brighton 166-4
Framlingham * 182-2 (20 ), Langley 151 (20 )
Shrewsbury 133, Malvern * 136-4
Radley * 246-5 Charterhouse 247-4 (45 )
Harrow* 216 (40), King’s Taunton 217-4
MCC 261-4 dec., Marlborough 263-2 (Horton 116*)
Bradfield* 279-5 (35), Reading 109
Canterbury Academy 269-9 , Whitgift 243
Wymondham 198 (30 ), Oundle 2nd XI* 108
Oakham 132 (40), Stamford* 136-6
Bishop’s Stortford High 182-7 (20 ), Bishop’s Stortford * 123-4
Haberdashers’* 112-5 (20 ), The John Lyon 113-1
Shrewsbury 201* (45), MCC 137
Hymers 127-6 (20), Hill House 131-6
Myerscough (Manchester) 169-6 (40), Sedbergh* 121-7
St Benedict’s* 154-7 (20), John Hampden 104-9
Halliford 63 (20), Kingston GS* 67-3
Reed’s* 105-5 (20). KCS Wimbledon 98-7
St George’s Weybridge 142-5 (20 ), City of London Freemen’s* 80
Reigate Grammar 176-5 (20 ), Alleyn’s * 109-7
XL 182-6 dec., Shrewsbury 2nd XI 168-4
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby 153-4 (20 ), Stockport Grammar 151-4
Royal Russell 76 (20 ), Wallington County Grammar 77-4
Scarborough 229-6 (35), St. Peter’s* 143
MCC 197-6 dec., Rossall 165-8
Queen Ethelburga’s* 112 -7 (20), Northumberland U18 113-1
Huddersfield New 100-6 (20), Northumberland U18 91
Huddersfield New 131-8 (20), Queen Ethelburga’s* 104-3
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 129-6 (20), Hampton 133-8
MCC 228-4, *Cranleigh 229-5 (N Atkins 110)
Harrow 2nd XI (25) John Lyon 127-4
Seaford 294-7 Solihull 196 (43 )
Sedbergh 156-6 (20), St. Peter’s 161-6
Embley 154-4 (20), Perse U16A 154-6
Saturday 26th April – 50 0vers unless otherwise stated
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood* 344-4 (50 ) (A Bhandarkar 162*), Whitgift 337-5 (D Beckett 120*)
Uppingham 249-7 (50 ) (B Dring 101*), Oakham 189
Haileybury 340-6 (E Scott 141), Haberdasher’s 122
The Leys 137-6 (20 ), The Perse 135-3
Wells Cathedral * 138-6 (30), Bryanston 142-5
King’s Rochester* 130, St. Lawrence 131-1
Dauntsey’s 117 (35), Clayesmore* 63
King’s Bruton* 304-4 dec., Monkton Combe 110
Bristol Grammar 75 (40 ), Kingswood 78-3
Stowe 207-9 (40 ), Cheltenham 79
Bloxham 213-4 (40 ), The King’s , Worcester 214-2
Brighton 228-4 (40 ), St Paul’s 195
Harrow 86, Winchester 87-2
Canford 197-7 (40 ), King’s , Taunton 143
Rugby 264-6 Bedford 141
Oundle 312-5 (40 ) (R Hayward 154), Bedford Modern 200-9
Wellington 235-7, Cranleigh 236-2
Bradfield 160, St Edward’s , Oxford 118
Framlingham 144 (40 ), Felsted 145-3
Uppingham 249-7 Oakham 189
The King’s , Canterbury 134 , Sutton Valence 135-3
Epsom 333-9 Hurstpierpoint 136
Tonbridge 189 Charterhouse 190-5
Taunton 242 Sherborne 193
Trent 340 (A Badge 137), Manchester GS* 174
Wisbech 18 (20), Wymondham* 20-3
Reed’s 179 (40), St. George’s* 180-8
Berkhamsted 225-7, Abingdon* 190
Exeter 143-4 (30 ), Plymouth 127-8
Bromsgrove* 214-9 (45 ), King Edward’s , Birmingham 212-6
KCS Wimbledon 190, RGS Guildford 139
Lord Wandsworth 140 Reading Blue Coat 92
St Peter’s *, York 263-7 Sedbergh 173
Dulwich 265-8 Eastbourne* 258
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 308-3 (40 ) (A Bush 104), Royal Hospital 130
Warwick 242-5 (40 ) (G Larucci 109), Monmouth 243-5 (J Blades 113)
Seaford 254-7 (40 ), King Edward VI, Southampton 106
Brentwood 161-9 (40), Ipswich 96
Shiplake 158-5 (20 ), UCS 130-5
King Edward’s , Bath 74 (22 ), Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (QEH) 75-5
Queen Elizabeth’s , Barnet 157 (37 ), St Albans 158-7
Trinity , Croydon 196-6 (20 ), Eltham 127-5
Kingston Grammar 124 (29 ), City of London Freemen’s 128-7
Pocklington 113 , QEGS Wakefield 115-5
Watford Grammar for Boys 212-5 (20 ) (N Nair 125), Bishop’s Stortford College 116-9
Stephen Perse135-3 (20 ), Embley 136-7
Shrewsbury 237-8 Repton 238-4
Stamford 125 , Denstone 128-8
Sunday 27th April – 50 overs unless otherwise stated
Lord Wandsworth 155-8 (20 ), Elizabeth 192-7
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 222-4 (20 ), Embley 142-7
Warwickshire EPP XI 289-8, Shrewsbury 155
Millfield 349/7 (C Falconer 201*), Gloucestershire YC 231
Monday
King’s, Chester 177-6 (20 ), Wirral Grammar for Boys 140-3
Girls
The Cricket Paper Girls 100 Ball Cup
Seaford 50-7, Cranleigh 52-4
Repton 146-3, Trent 55
Barnard Castle 66, Sedbergh 67-2
Framlingham w/o Culford (withdrew)
Scarborough 134-2, Hymers 82-6
King’s, Worcester 157-4 (20 Overs), Malvern 99-7
Other results – 20 overs unless otherwise stated
Repton 124-8, The King’s , Worcester 126-4
Oundle 169-6 (25 ), Wymondham 137-6
Reigate Grammar 86-5, Alleyn’s 87-0
Shrewsbury 154-5 (25), Shropshire 96
*Cranleigh 213-4(30 ), Wellington 168
King’s, Taunton 122-1, Canford 113-5
King’s, Worcester 111-9, Rugby 113-1
Cheltenham 200-5, Stowe 102-9
Oundle 192-5 (30 ), Bedford Modern 147-5
Marlborough 91-8, Lord Wandsworth 89-7
Millfield 157-3, Blundell’s 73-4
Tudor Hall 58-7 (16 ), Malvern St James 59-4
Charterhouse 166-1, King Edward’s Witley 95-7
Monkton Combe 123-7, King’s Bruton 124-5
Uppingham 115-1, Oakham 116-3
St Helen & St Katharine 101-6, Haileybury 102-1
Brighton 173-5, Lancing 59-8
Christ 98-8, Clifton 99-1
The Portsmouth Grammar 65-8, Ryde with Upper Chine 68-4
Epsom 240-9 (30 ), Hurstpierpoint 41
St Joseph’s, Ipswich 48m Royal Hospital 49-2
Shrewsbury 134 (40 ), Repton 137-1 (21 )
King’s, Canterbury 162-5, Sutton Valence 118-4
Framlingham 132-2 , Felsted 133-4
Stamford 155-4, Kimbolton 107-6
King Edward’s, Bath 103-5, Bristol Grammar 104-0
Emanuel 103-7, St John’s, Leatherhead 104-2
Haberdashers’ Monmouth 90-7, Hereford Cathedral 93-2
Ipswich 132-4, Brentwood 133-5
St Swithun’s 166-4 , Embley 68
Eastbourne 153-6, Mayfield 104-5
King Edward VI, Southampton 74-7, Seaford 76-4
Kingston Grammar 143-2, City of London Freemen’s 140-2
Reigate Grammar 156-2 , Dunnottar 113-5