Silk Trophy 2015
Report by Rob Morris

Shrewsbury retained the Silk Trophy for a 3rd unprecedented occasion in the festival held at Shrewsbury after the end of the Summer term. This year's festival featured Hilton College from Durban, South Africa making their first appearance since 2009, alongside Eton, Oundle and Shrewsbury. 

The Silk Festival is a round-robin with all 4 schools playing each other in a 50-over format played along ICC rules with bowling and batting powerplays. 

Day 1 saw Shrewsbury take on Oundle and Eton take on the South African tourists. Shrewsbury made 233-7 from their 50 overs with a 130 run opening partnership between Oliver Westbury (57) and George Hargrave (72). In reaching 43, Oliver Westbury reached his 1000 runs for the season and is the first Shrewsbury School batman to reach this landmark since Nottinghamshire and England batsman James Taylor.

Oundle started confidently and were well poised at 114-3 in the 32nd over, but were blown away by the pace bowling of England Under-17 player George Panayi, who took four for13 from eight overs. Oundle lost their last seven wickets for 13 runs inside six overs to finish on 127 all out. 

Eton on the other hand, won their game by 80 runs having bowled out the school from KwaZulu Natal for 131.

On Day Two, with the weather warming up, Shrewsbury lost the toss and were asked to field against Hilton.The South Africans started brightly and scored at five an over despite losing 3 early wickets. A 4th wicket partnership of 156 scored in less than 30 overs threatened to take the game away from Shrewsbury, but the return of Panayi (4-40) and Daniel Lloyd (4-42) restricted the middle order as they lost quick wickets in pursuit of a large total. Hilton closed their innings on 257-9. Shrewsbury would have to chase their largest total of the season if they were to overhaul Hilton and despite a first wicket stand of 61, they failed to come to terms with the accuracy of the South African bowlers. A number of the Shrewsbury side got good starts but none could press on and make the large score that was needed to underpin the innings if a victory was to be achieved. The loss of the last seven wickets for 24 runs outlined Hilton's dominance and Shrewsbury slumped to their first loss in the Silk Trophy since July 2011 when they lost narrowly against Eton on the final day.

Eton accounted for Oundle, not as easily as they had hoped and there were a few tense moments before they scraped home by three wickets. 

So Day Three dawned – the warmest of the year so far. Eton, Hilton and Shrewsbury all had a chance of winning. Eton were in the box seat with two wins and the latter two playing catch-up with one win each. For the 3rd consecutive day, Shrewsbury skipper George Lewis lost the toss and was invited to field by the Eton captain. Some tight bowling by the Shrewsbury bowlers ensured that runs were at a premium and even a fifth-wicket partnership of 117 between Al Russell (also reaching 1000 runs during this knock) and McDonagh scored in only 19 overs could not dent the spirit of the Shrewsbury bowlers. Eton eventually finished on 237 for nine with Lloyd and Durman picking up three wickets each.

Shrewsbury lost their talisman Oliver Westbury for six, unable to add to the six centuries already scored this season. They set about rebuilding the innings with Hargrave (68) and Adair (29) before the latter was out caught be the Eton skipper Gordon Lennox on 82 in the 21st over. George Lewis came to the crease and played his finest innings of his three years in the 1st XI taking the Eton bowlers on, scoring at better than a run a ball. His 74 contained numerous deft deflections, ramps and classic cover drives as he took the game away from Eton and ended with scores level. At the other end, George Panayi started slowly with his first 13 runs scored from 42 balls before he too, opened up with an array of shots around the wicket, with his next 26 runs coming from 11 balls. With a win by six wickets in the bag, attention was now paid to what had gone on the Chances pitch. 

Hilton had narrowly beaten Oundle, who finished 15 runs short of their target and as three teams had finished on two wins each, the calculators were quickly summoned. Using the same net run rate formula as for the National Schools Twenty20 competition, Shrewsbury were adjudged the winners with a NRR of 8.50 against Hilton's 1.74 and Eton's -1.64. 

So Shrewsbury retain the Silk Trophy for the third time – a feat never previously achieved and the two George's - Lewis and Panayi  - playing in all three wins. George Panayi has another year in the first XI and could possibly play in a fourth win!

Festival Winners: Shrewsbury School

Batsman of the Festival: Al Russell (Eton) 197 runs

Bowler of the Festival: James Ritchie (Hilton) 10 wickets

Fielder of the Festival: Hector Hardman (Eton)

All rounder of the Festival: Ben Graves (Oundle) 153 runs & 7 wkts