The schools season ground into gear again after half-term, but rather sluggishly with A2 exams now under way and, in many schools, the AS lot having an extra breather and probably making a nuisance of themselves on the beaches of North Cornwall. It is extraordinary to think that, in some independent schools at least, the end of term is only just over two weeks away. Rain also affected several games.
By today, we should have known the last eight in the National Schools Twenty20 competition, but alas one play-off round was cancelled on Friday, as were several games on Sunday. The final four appear at Lord?s (Nursery Ground) on Friday July 8th. The ciurrent state of play will be posted later this week.
Nipuna Senaratne made an excellent mature century on his debut in a full-length game to lead Eton to a fine victory against a strong Eton Ramblers team, which included Will Vanderspar, the 2010 season?s Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year. The Ramblers set quite a challenging target of 272 for 5 declared, with Ivo Hobson scoring 116, but Eton who have had a slightly mixed season overcame the target while losing only four wickets.
Tonbridge and Bedford played their usual two-day game at the beginning of half-term, and it turned out to be quite a match. Tonbridge set the pace by declaring at 340 for eight, to which Bedford, at home, responded with a bold declaration of 281 for four, two of their players – CharlieThurston (120) and James Kettleborough (106) – scoring centuries. Tonbridge again declared, at 212 for six, Fabian Cowdrey leading the way with 116 not out. The declaration seemed a shade generous as Bedford were coasting to victory, needing only 130 from the last 20 overs with nine wickets in hand. However, the game changed dramatically as the home side lost these nine wickets for only 40, leaving Tonbridge the victors by 86 runs.
News has only just reached me of an extraordinary performance by a schoolboy last year, albeit for a club 3rd XI. Oliver Hardaker scored 329 for Horsforth CC with no fewer than 27 sixes and 29 fours. This week, as captain of Woodhouse Grove, he scored his maiden century for the school, 132 not out, with a mere two sixes but 23 fours.
Lewis Catlow, Ipswich?s slow left-armer, played havoc with Norwich?s batting. After his team had declared at 240 for six, he returned figures of eight for 48 in 14.4 overs to bowl out the visitors for 104.
On a pitch damp from heavy overnight rain, St John?s Leatherhead won the toss and invited Cranleigh to bat. Some loose bowling allowed Cranleigh to get away to a quick start, but the spinners ? James Lander, Josh Howe and Adam Dyson – provided a sterner test. Jack Scriven gave them a lunchtime score of 130 for two and was eventually out for 133, his third century of the season. Cranleigh finished on 308 for four in their 50 overs. St John?s responded equally positively, but once Adam Dyson had fallen after a sprightly 59, the innings lost momentum as wickets were sacrificed in search of quick runs, and the visitors were bowled for 188.
Results:
(Two-day game) Tonbridge 340-8 dec, *Bedford 281- 4 dec (J Kettleborough 108, C Thurston 120); Tonbridge 212-6 dec (F Cowdrey 116 not out), *Bedford 185 (T Coldman 5-40)
*Uppingham 150-6 (20 overs), England Women 124-7
MCC 216, *Winchester 183-6
Malvern 274-4 (T Kohler-Cadmore 111 not out), *King?s, Worcester 192 (W Wright 5-38)
*Fettes 112- 9 (40 overs), Merchiston Castle 113-2 (Lothian Schools Cup semi-final)
*The Rifles 200-8 (50 overs), Winchester 201-3
*Eton 143-9 (50 overs), Millfield 146-2
Eton Ramblers 272-5 dec (I Hobson 116), *Eton 273-4 (N Senaratne 104 not out)
Sevenoaks 236-8 (40 overs)(T Nickols 103), *Eltham 93-5 (rain)
*Reed’s 198, Christ’s Hospital 131
*Eton 249-8 (50 overs), Winchester 213
Kirkham GS 110, *Lancaster RGS 111-1
Clayesmore 187-8 dec (L McManus 102),*King’s, Bruton 128-7
*KCS Wimbledon 96, Dulwich 97-7 (D Chohan 5-15)
*Silcoates 151-8 (40 overs), Hymers 152-3
Oundle 257-4 dec (H Ramsden 150 not out), *Felsted 194-8
*Tonbridge 254-5 (55 overs), Wellington 260-9
Woodhouse Grove 247-5 (O Hardaker 132 not out),*Durham 75
King?s, Taunton 185, *Clifton 165
*Ipswich 240-6 dec, Norwich 104 (L Catlow 8-48)
*Magdalen College School 138, Rugby 139-3
Charterhouse 248-7 (50 overs), *Bradfield 125-2 (rain)
*Haberdashers? Aske?s 222-4 (45 overs), Abingdon 177 (K Patel 5-24)
*Shrewsbury 258 (50 overs)(J Hudson-Williams 107), Malvern 102
St Albans 223, Berkhamsted 116
Marlborough 234-4 (50 overs), *St Edward?s, Oxford 203
Taunton 130 (50 overs), *Queen’s, Taunton 131-8
*Cranleigh 308-4 (50 overs)(J Scriven 133), St John?s, Leatherhead 188
*Rugby 180 (J Kings 5-61), Stowe169 (A Birkby 5-50)
Old Stoics 171, *Stowe 172-1
Cheltenham 271-5 dec, *Stowe 162
*KES Bath 164, Monkton Combe 165-5
National Twenty20 competition
Colfe’s 47, Hampton 51-3
(Hampton win the South London section and play Portsmouth GS for a place at Lord?s)
Bromsgrove 72, Shrewsbury 75-3
(Play-offs in this section not yet complete)
Millfield 143-4, KES Bath 65
(Play-offs in this section not yet complete)
*Shrewsbury 173-9, Denstone 101-8
(Shrewsbury win the Midlands section and now play off against Felsted and Worksop/ Bedford/ Oundle for a place at Lord?s)