Tuesday May 26th 2009
Review by Douglas Henderson
A dramatic drop in the number of results because of the near-universal half-term. However, Tonbridge and Bedford admirably use the occasion for a two-day fixture over Saturday and Sunday. I believe this is the only two-day fixture still being played by schools in the UK (correct me if I?m wrong). A great pity that more are not played, because I believe that the development of young cricketers depends on their being exposed to every form of the game, and two-day cricket is very different from a one-day declaration game.
Tonbridge won the toss and, on a good pitch and sunny day, they elected to field. They bowled Bedford out for 182 and then reached 191 for four in only 33 overs. At this point they boldly declared, hoping to pick up a couple of wickets before the end of the first day. That ploy failed, and Bedford batted well to reach 263 for six declared and set a target of 255 in what turned out to be 43 overs. This demanding score eventually left Tonbridge holding out for a draw at 228 with eight wickets down. A classic example of the ebb and flow of the longer game.
Arthur Johnson, playing in his first match for The Glasgow Academy at the age of 15, took five for 15 with his off-breaks, to bowl out the XL club for 84. The Academy reached the total for the loss of only two wickets.
This is mainly an Under-19 site but we sometimes have space for other year-groups for exceptional performances. Two such games were played on the same day when Woodbridge played Norwich. In the Under-14 game, Finn Bryson scored 111 and Jack Rowett 82 in a declaration of 217 for three, a formidable score at this level, including a double-century partnership (206) in 29 overs. It proved rather too much for Norwich who nevertheless finished with a creditable 175 for eight to draw the game. Norwich succeeded at a lower level, Under-12, where Max Darrington (97 not out) and George Innes (46 not out) led to Woodbridge?s comfortable score (32/28 overs game) of 156 for nought, but Norwich were equal to the task and overhauled the target by four wickets..
Results (*denotes the home side)
(any corrections may be sent to [email protected])
*Durham 132-2 (20 overs), Stockton Cricket Academy 112-6
MCC 166-4 dec, *Uppingham 0-0 (rain)
*Enfield GS 192-9 (40 overs); Latymer Upper 193-5
Oakham 170, *Bedford 172- 4
Millfield 285-3 (J Lawrence 142)(50 overs), *Eton 268-8 (W Van der Spar 100)
XL Club 84 (A Johnson 5-15), *The Glasgow Academy 85-2
MCC 163-5 dec, *The Glasgow Academy 57-4 (rain)
*Bedford 182 & 263-6 dec, Tonbridge 191-4 dec & 228-8