2nd July 2024
Last Friday saw the climax of the season for schools cricket with the inaugural Schools Finals day held at Lord’s on Friday. For the 216 schools in the boys competition and 78 in the girls competition, who set out in April in the regional stages, dreadful weather and the demands of both external exams and Senior School Leaders could not dampen their enthusiasm for the two competitions, especially the four sides who reached Lord’s.
The girl’s 100-ball final was contested by Bradfield and Ipswich. Both had beaten one of last year’s finalists on the road to Lord’s and Ipswich, having won last year’s Under 17 title were slight favourites on the day. Lord’s looked magnificent on the day, though a little eerie with empty stands. A short leg side boundary on the Tavern side did little to detract from the cricket and gave the crowd a chance to add to the atmosphere.
Ipswich captain Petra Tweedy won the toss and invited Bradfield to bat, who reached the end of the powerplay at 24-1. Useful knocks from Shristi Patel (22) and Emma MacEwan (33) took the score to 75-1 with 30 balls remaining. The loss of 4 wickets in 8 balls saw Bradfield slip to 82-5 before Bella Bingley (25* with 3 sixes) and Lucy Bowlby saw Bradfield through to 117-5 from their 11- balls. Bella Johnson (1-12) was the pick of the bowlers with 12 dot balls from her 4 sets.
Ipswich set off well and looked to be well on course for an easy victory when they reached the end of the powerplay with 35 runs on the board and all 10 wickets in hand. When Tweedy (24) was first out after 40 balls, Ipswich were well placed on 48-1. Her opening partner Bella Johnson quicky followed 3 runs later as Ipswich made steady progress towards their target of 118. The loss of two further wickets did little to impede their progress, though the required run rate was increasing in the face of some accurate Bradfield bowling.
With 10 balls to bowl, Ipswich still needed 14 runs to win, though Booker and Morgan were well set. Six runs off the penultimate set saw Ipswich closing in and 8 runs were needed from the final 5 balls. With the final set about to be bowled by MacEwan, the crowd hushed. A two by Evie Booker off the first ball, was followed with Morgan (9) run out after attempting a risky second. The 3rd ball of the set was called a no ball for a high full toss and was pulled away towards the Tavern boundary with Evie Booker run out for 15 attempting a dubious 2nd run. Three runs were still needed with three balls remaining and both batters were new to the crease as things became even tenser. A dot ball added to the tension before Amelie Bull smeared the next ball away for 3 and Ipswich were crowned champions for the first time.
Bradfield’s Emma MacEwan was named by the umpires as the Player of the Match for her all round contribution in the game.
Fraser Stewart, the MCC’s head of Cricket was on hand to present the trophy and mementoes of the day to Ipswich, while tournament organisers Andy Barnard were also on hand to give out mementoes.
The boys T20 final took place in the afternoon after the boundary and fielding circles had been extended by the ground staff. Archie Vaughan won the toss for Millfield and invited the Yorkshiremen to bat first. Jaden Rose struck in the first over removing Noah Watson after Bennison had clubbed him for 6 off the first ball of the innings. Things went from bad to worse for St. Peter’s as they quickly slumped to 34-4 inside 5 overs and the contest looked decided for many on the ground. However, Wills Bennison, a close contender for the Wisden Schoolboy award in 2022, while still in Year 10, had other ideas. While he was at the crease, St. Peter’s still had a chance. A half century stand with Monty Dodsworth steadied the nerves of the St. Peter’s faithful as Bennison dominated Millfield’s bowling attack. As the hundred was brought up, the opener was on 81* and seemed destined to reach three figures. However, on 119, he was caught by the wicket keeper Kelsey off the bowling of Callum Falconer and agonisingly 3 short of a richly deserved century, having scored 9 sixes.
From a position of strength in the 15th over, the last five overs yielded just 31 runs with St. Peter’s finishing on 154-9 that many in the pavilion thought was a below par score given the dimensions of the boundaries.
After Vaughan departed 2nd ball for 4, before an outstanding piece of fielding by skipper Hugo Nixon ran out the in form Falconer at the non-striker’s end with a direct hit to reduce Millfield to 15-2. The Millfield innings mirrored that of St. Peter’s as they slumped to 31 -4 inside the 5th over. However, there were no heroics this time around as they lost regular wickets in the face of some tight bowling and some injudicious batting. When the 9th wicket fell at 81 in the 13th over, the result was beyond doubt and only some sensible late order batting by Kenyon and Rose pushed the score in to triple figures before the latter was bowled by Bennison in the 18th over attempting a reverse sweep. That man Bennison was the pick of the bowlers with 3-17 and not unexpectedly, was named Player of the Match by the umpires.
A great time was had by all, for the players, who had a day they will remember for the rest of their lives, their parents and all the other supporters who enjoyed the surroundings of the most famous cricket pavilion in the world. The Schools Cricket Committee wish to thank the MCC for their generosity in hosting this event. The invited guests who included senior leaders from the schools represented were welcomed by Mark Nicholas, the current MCC president, himself a former pupil of Bradfield.
Our thanks also go out to the four umpires on the day, who too, had a day to remember, the scorers, to all the schools who competed, the various sponsors including TCA Tours Ltd., The Cricket Paper, Tiflex and Newbery, and lastly to the organisers of the two competitions.
Elsewhere this week, further reminders have gone out to schools about their Wisden submissions, as many schools have either finished for the summer or finish this week. Last week a number of traditional two-day fixtures took place along with a number of festivals with a few of the larger and more well-known festivals taking place this week. The Silk Trophy, the BOWS festival and the RGS will all be reported on next week.
In the girl’s game, Epsom have won the National Under 17 competition beating Stamford in the final – details below, while Epsom, Repton, St. Edward’s and 100-ball winners Ipswich battle it out in the School Sports T20 finals day in Southampton on the 3rd. Repton meanwhile, have won the inaugaral Cricket Paper Girls Under 15 100-ball beating Ipswich in the final. In what is probably a first in girl’s cricket in the UK, Shrewsbury entertained Bradfield in a two-day fixture last week. The match was drawn, but according to the Bradfield master i/c, Mike Hill, it was an enjoyable occasion.
Next week’s blog will be the final edition of the year and as well as rounding up all the results, there will be a review of the season.
Results
National Schools Boys Under 18 T20
Final (held at Lord’s on 28th June)
St. Peter’s, York 154-9 (20) (W. Bennison 97), Millfield 110 (17.3) Scorecard
Yorkshire and NE Plate Finals day
Huddersfield New College 179-7, Harrogate GS 61
Huddersfield New College 55, Park View Academy 58-4
Harrogate GS 93, Park View Academy 94-4
Park View Academy, Chester Le Street are the winners
Other
Epsom 267-7 (40), Bradfield 201
UCS 219 (50 ), George Watson’s 90
Leys 194 (49 ), St Paul’s 196-4
Boland Landbou (RSA) 313-6 (50 ), Stamford 287
Pocklington 119-0 (20 ), Reigate Grammar 123-4
Scarborough 169-8 (20), Millfield 152-7
Millfield 254-8 (40), Scarborough 256-4
St Joseph’s 198 &178-3 dec., Eltham 122 &154-6 (2-day)
Rugby 214 & 182, Marlborough 192 & 208-4 (2-day)
Shrewsbury 223 & 238-9 dec., Uppingham 256 & 12-2 (2-day)
St. Peter’s Cambridge 175, Harrow 179-5
Harrow 265-7 dec., Melbourne GS 224-7
Marlborough 296-4 dec. (M. Dunne 114), Marlborough Blues 173-9
Hampton 235-7 (50), Whitgift 183
Haileybury 177 / 5 dec. & 189 / 6 dec, Cheltenham 150 & 169-8 (2-day)
Shrewsbury 2nd XI 190-6 (20), Abbotsholme 164
Solihull 421-6 (50 ) (S. Sitch 114), Haberdashers’ Monmouth 224
Solihull 293 (40), Warwickshire Imps 251-8
Sedbergh 207 (40), Scarborough 207-5
Scarborough 267-5 (40), Sedbergh 193-7
Berkhamsted 217-8 (30 ), Dr Challoner’s Grammar 182
Winchester 202-2 (20 ), Portsmouth Grammar 60
Forest 317-9 (40) (A Rashid 133), Melbourne Grammar 137
King’s , Canterbury 193-5 (20 ), Sevenoaks 119-8
Shrewsbury 150 (20), Pembroke (Aus) 151-2
Judd 131-8 (30 ), Eltham 132-5
King’s , Gloucester 182-4 (20 ), Hereford Cathedral 119-8
St Benedict’s 138-5 (25 ), John Lyon 143-6
St George’s Weybridge 175-8 (40), RGS, Guildford 176-6
Bedford Modern 172 (40), Stamford 2nd XI 176-9
Blundell’s 104 (20 ), Exeter 107-3
Tonbridge 306-4 (55), Radley 302
KCS Wimbledon 259-8 (50 ), Trinity 162
Wilson’s 124 (40 ), Tiffin 125-4
Trent 240-9 (40 ), Solihull 238-9
Dulwich 263-9 (50 ), St Paul’s 244
Bristol Grammar 190-5 (40 ), Sir Thomas Rich’s 191-9
Nottingham High 136 (39 ), Denstone 139-2
Haberdashers’ Elstree s 167 (50 ), Bedford 170-1
Reed’s 221 (39 ), Reigate GS 220-9
Bryanston 147-7 (25 ), Warminster 148-7
Kingswood 206-9 (35 ), QEH 191-6
Blundell’s 161-6 (20 ), Reigate GS 124-8
St Benedict’s 319-7 dec. & 95-6 dec., Gosfield 203 & 135-7 (2 day)
King Edward’s , Birmingham 145-7 (20 ), King Edward VI , Stratford 81
Gordon’s 114 (20), Portsmouth GS 117-3
Queen Mary’s Grammar 179-3 (20 ), Bablake 116-8
Solihull 286-4 (20 ) (S Sitch 109), Bishop Vesey’s GS 142-6
Solihull 232-6 (20), Solihull 6th Form 65
Scarborough 145 (40 ), Worksop 149-8
Wycliffe 223-8 (30 ), Beechen Cliff 149
MGS 275-8 dec. & 157, Loughborough GS 337-6 dec. and 74-1(2-day)
Reigate Grammar 176-8 (40 ), Whitgift 177-2
QE Barnet 173-9 dec., Watford GS 115-9
St Andrew’s (RSA) 233-9 (50 ), Wellington 205
Caterham 115 (33 ), King’s , Canterbury 116-2
Reigate Grammar 176-8 (40 ), Whitgift 177-2
Malvern 246-5 dec. & 192-5 dec., Bradfield 137-9 dec. & 155 (2-day)
Framlingham 154 (40 ), Stamford 158-6
Newcastle-Under-Lyme 174-8 (40 ), King’s , Chester 155 (37 )
King’s Ely 183-4 (20 ), Wisbech Grammar 156
Solihull 179-5 (20 ), Denstone 117
St Joseph’s , Ipswich 73 (20 ), Woodbridge 74-1
Framlingham 182 (40 ), Eastbourne 130-2
King’s , Canterbury 123 (40 ), Worth 125-1
Sevenoaks 273-6 (45 ), Caterham 177
Oakham 213 (49 ), Boland Landbou Agricultural (RSA) 214-4
Stockport Grammar 106 (40 ), King’s , Chester 107-8
Girls
Cricket Paper National s Girls Under 18 100-ball (held at Lord’s 28th June)
Final
Bradfield 117-5 (100), Ipswich118-6 (99) Scorecard
School Sport Magazine Girls Under 18 T20
Quarter finals:
Scarborough 79, Repton 80-6
Ipswich 172-2, King’s Worcester 157-6
St George’s Weybridge 121-8, Epsom 122-6
St Edward’s Oxford 156-1, Taunton 151-6
Finals Day (Semi Finals/Final/3rd Place Play-Off to be played on July 3 at King Edward VI , Southampton)
National Under 17 Girls T20 (held at Arundel Castle)
Semi-finals
Epsom 158-6, Bede’s 86
Rugby 121-4, Stamford 122-6
Final
Stamford 149-4, Epsom 150-1
The Cricket Paper National Schools Under 15 Girls 100-ball (held at Merchant Taylors’ Northwood)
Semi-finals
Wellington College 55 (84), Ipswich 56-4 (59)
Rugby 105-7 (100), Repton 109-0 (79)
Final
Repton 108-8 (100), Ipswich 78 (84)
Other
Bradfield 229 (40), Repton 203
Stamford 50 , Bedford Modern 53-2
King’s , Worcester 180-2 (20 ), King’s , Gloucester 182-2 (20 )
Westonbirt 66-6 (13 ), Wycliffe 67-2 (10 )
Trinity , Croydon 70-7 (16 ), Emanuel 71-0 (5 )
King’s , Gloucester 98 (20 ), Pate’s Grammar 100-3 (14 )
Bradfield 267-5 dec. & 143-8 dec., Shrewsbury 230-9 dec. and 178-7 (2-days)
Blundell’s 90-7 (100 ball), St Swithun’s 91-4
Stamford 132-6 , Eastbourne 127-5
Marlborough 232 (40 ), Rugby 193 (32 )
Stamford 134-2 , Seaford 103-5