John Lyon were going along quite nicely against Westminster at 67 for one, chasing 197 for five , until Leo Nelson-Jones, an Under-15 leg-spinner, wrought havoc. His figures speak for themselves: five overs, three maidens, seven wickets for two runs. Leo plays for Middlesex Under-15s, hardly surprisingly, and this is his second season in Westminster?s First XI. The school has enjoyed a fine season so far, winning 12 matches, drawing one and losing one.
It?s good to see that the traditional declaration game ? so much more subtle and satisfying than an endless diet of overs cricket ? is making a bit of a comeback. In some places it never went away, of course. There was a fine example of the genre at Radley, who entertained Oundle. The home side won the toss and batted on a good wicket. Oundle opened with a spinner and a diet of spin frustrated the Radley batsmen. However, their running was excellent and they made an interesting declaration at exactly half-time. Oundle responded positively and overhauled Radley?s 237 for seven declared with five overs to spare. It is a truism that in a declaration game you often have to risk losing in order to win, and Radley boldly did so, after an outstanding season of nine wins and one draw.
Despite the generally fine weather, it was freezing at Bishop?s Stortford High School. St Albans were put in and an early finish looked likely when they were 91 for five after 26 overs. However, James Scott (67) and Harley Stairmand (59) added 68 in six overs and they reached 196 in their 40 overs. The home side were cruising at 100 for three after 20 overs, but the lower order, who had not batted much all season, were a bit rusty and they found themselves needing seven in the last over with eight down. A four from the first ball was a good start but a run-out from a direct hit made them nine down with one needed from two balls. A suicidal run and apparent run-out on the fifth ball seemed to make the match a tie, but the umpire was unsighted by a huddle of fielders and had to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt. Thus Bishop?s Stortford won by one wicket.
The High School of Glasgow rounded off their season with a short tour of the North East of Scotland. They had already played Glenalmond earlier in the season, losing by one run. In the return fixture they scored 150 all out in a 35 over match, Patrick Bell riding his luck to make 86. Glenalmond lost two quick wickets, but recovered to build a challenge. Three wickets fell with only eight needed and, with the last man at the crease and two overs to go, his first ball missed the stumps by a whisker. He eventually nudged a two through a rare gap to record a one-wicket victory.
Dulwich won all of their school matches, but fell in the regional finals of the National Schools Twenty20 competition, competing with St Bede?s and Abingdon, the latter triumphing to represent the South next Monday, June 28th, at Lord?s (Nursery ground). Spectators are welcome, but numbers are limited for safety reasons. If anybody would like to attend but is not coming with a particular school as a supporter, then please e-mail [email protected].
Schools participating in the semi-finals and finals are Shrewsbury (North), Abingdon (South), Bedford (East) and Millfield (West).
Results:
*Westminster 197-5 (30 overs), John Lyon 82 (L Nelson-Jones 7-2)
St Albans 196 (40 overs), *Bishop?s Stortford HS 197-9
*Cranleigh 242-8 (50 overs), Tonbridge 246-4 (T Elliott 113)
*Haberdashers’ Aske’s 245-3 (40 overs), Queen Elizabeth’s, Barnet 110
Strathallan 223-6 (50 overs), *Merchiston Castle 220
St Peter?s, Adelaide 203-8 (50 overs), *Winchester 204-6
Denstone 190, *Bishop Vesey 100
*Radley 237-7 dec, Oundle 238-5
Lancaster RGS 134, *Sedbergh 135-4
Bedford 252-3 (40 overs), *Dulwich 253-5
Dulwich 303-5 (55 overs), *Eton 269-9
King Edward VI College, Totnes 223-8 (50 overs), *Queen’s, Taunton 191
Queen’s, Taunton 212-8 dec, Kelly College 68
Sevenoaks 175-8 (35 overs), *Caterham 112.
*Bristol GS 227-5 (40 overs), Colston?s 125
XL Club 174-6 dec, *High School of Glasgow 176-8
*Strathallan 115, High School of Glasgow 116-4
*Gordonstoun 313-3 dec (N Roberts 126 not out, J Robertson 100 not out), High School of Glasgow 164
High School of Glasgow 150, *Glenalmond 151-9
RGS Worcester 272-4 dec, *Magdalen College School 203-8
*Wellingborough 226-9 dec, Bedford Modern 229-4 (G Thurstance 101)
*Winchester 234-9 (50 overs) (C Portz 108), Old Wykehamists 212
Durham CCC Under-17 225-5 dec, *Durham School 229-9
*King?s, Bruton 172, Dauntsey?s 173-1
John Lyon 140, *Merchant Taylors’, Northwood 114
*St Edward?s, Oxford 158, Stowe 107-8 (R Wise 5-32)
Free Foresters 212-7 dec, *St Edward?s, Oxford 152-8
*Glasgow Academy 91, Stewart’s Melville 83
Woodhouse Grove 268-6 (T Cummins 100),*Pocklington 215-8
Ampleforth 98,*St Peter?s, York 99-0
St Peter?s, York 170-8 (40 overs), *Ashville 171-4
*St John?s, Leatherhead 275, Reigate Grammar School 91
MCC 203-9, *Bradfield 114
Abingdon 280 (N Watkins 136) (50 overs), *Bradfield 118
Wellington, Somerset 145-7 (28 overs), *Kelly 101-8
Lancaster RGS 214-4 (35 overs), *Kirkham GS 121-7
Cowley 90, *Kirkham GS 92 -2
MCC 207-7 dec,*Kirkham GS 147-7
National Twenty20 South region finals
Abingdon 176-5, St Bede?s 135
St Bede?s 122-7, Dulwich 123-2
Dulwich 162-7, Abingdon 166-4
Abingdon win and will represent the South at Lord?s on Monday June 28th
National Twenty20 North region semi-finals
Worksop 194-5, RGS Newcastle 100
Worksop play Shrewsbury in the North final
National Twenty20 North region final
Worksop 167-7, Shrewsbury 168-5
Shrewsbury win and will represent the North at Lord’s on Monday June 28th
National Twenty20 West region final
Millfield 172-5, Clifton 125-7
Millfield win and will represent the West at Lord’s on Monday June 28th
Semi-finals and finals at Lord?s (Nursery) on Monday June 28th 10am?7.30pm are:
East: Bedford School
v
South: Abingdon School
North: Shrewsbury School
v
West: Millfield School
Spectators are most welcome (free) but numbers are limited for safety reasons. If you would like to attend but have not been invited by the participants or the organisers, please send an e-mail to [email protected]