Further details of the record-breaking match last week between Harrow and Hampton. George Reid set the tone for Harrow with 96 in only 112 balls before he was bowled. At number three, the fine all-rounder Anshuman Rath was proceeding at an even faster pace, taking only 102 balls to make an excellent 171. The second wicket stand between these two was 259. With the score at 291 and with twelve overs remaining, 350 seemed a likely target. However, Rahul Wijeratne had other ideas and proceeded to lay about the bowling with such force (causing a neighbouring match to take frequent evasive action) that it took him only 46 balls to finish on 116 not out and take the score to 442 for four in 50 overs, surpassing Tiffin?s 426 in 2004 and Caterham?s 427 last year.
If Hampton were daunted by the monumental task ahead, it did not seem like it. An opening partnership of 93 in only twelve overs meant that they were almost up with the required rate and Todd Ryan eventually fell for a fine 159 at just over a run a ball. However, Rath and Abdullah Nazir began to regain some control but they still did not prevent Hampton from scoring an extraordinary 325 for six which would normally be an unbeatable total. All the more striking fact was that this was not a glorious sunny day but a rather windswept and chilly one.Though Harrow’s total is probably the highest ever, the aggregate for the match is not; that accolade goes to the astonishing Solihull v Nottingham High School contest in 2010 where they respectively scored 408 for five and 401 all out.?Read all about it here. With the happy knack which cricket has of bringing you back to earth, Harrow then lost ? albeit narrowly – in their next game with Tonbridge by 19 runs, 289 for two in 55 overs playing 270 for nine.
Believe it or not, most schools in the 70s and before had at least one leg-spinner and often two. They seem to be out of vogue now but they can often be game-changers (see last week?s column). Schoolboys (and West Indians) are notoriously bad at coping with the ball hovering above the eyeline and cannot resist temptation. Such was the case at Winchester where Bradfield, a strong side, were running away with the game at 62 for two, chasing a pretty modest 137. Leg-spinner Harry Vaughan, only 16 years old, stepped forward to take five for four in only four overs and the visitors were bowled out for 128. Another low-scoring thriller.
The Monkhouse Intersport league game between Dauntsey?s and Prior Park was reduced to 35 overs because of rain. Prior Park set a fair target of 200 for eight, but 16 year old Rahul Patel replied with 151 not out from only 98 balls with seven sixes and 23 fours to win with ten overs to spare.
On a wonderfully sunny day Stamford won the toss and elected to bat. 14 year old James Evison showed what a precocious talent he is scoring a very mature century that defied his young years. Wellingborough managed to stem the flow of runs and in the end were happy to be chasing 241 in the 50-over contest. Wellingborough recovered from the loss of their first wicket in just the third over and once skipper Ben Wall and George Groenland came together they batted with confidence and maturity. Both batsmen manoeuvred the ball well and took advantage of any loose bowling with Wall just pipping Groenland to the 100 mark. Both innings were chanceless and the game was wrapped up with 6.2 overs remaining. A superb advert for Schoolboy cricket.
In the National Twenty20 competition Cranleigh had a very narrow victory over Tonbridge in the regional final. At 92-3 chasing 120 (for nine) with six overs to go and then 101-4 with 5 overs left Cranleigh seemed to be coasting to victory. But then Tonbridge took four wickets in two overs and the last pair needed one off the final ball, which they managed to scamper. In the North, Captain Bailey Worcester batted through the Woodhouse Grove innings to score 94 not out including 14 fours and two sixes against a strong Ashville College to reach a formidable 201 for three in their 20 overs. Ashville replied strongly but finished 28 runs short?
Woodhouse Grove then won a low scoring derby against Bradford Grammar School when they recovered from 73-8 to knock off Bradford?s modest total of 152. Joel Godfrey scored a magnificent 82 not out in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 80 with Adbi Ahmed. Godfrey?s innings included 14 fours and a six as Grove reached the total in 33 overs.
In a tense little number St Albans were dismissed for only 166 though that was better than seemed likely at one point. Going reasonably well at 111 for four, led with 48 on his debut by 14-year-old Josh De Caires, son of Michael Atherton, though he prefers the relative anonymity of his mother?s maiden name. However, the game was turned upside down by the introduction of Tom Oliver and Deven Solanki who reduced the home side to 120 before recovering at 166 all out. The Bancroft?s innings followed a similar pattern although no one scored 30. Their middle order lost four wickets for nine runs in five overs and seemed down and out at 96 for seven and falling behind the rate. However, an excellent? seventh wicket stand between Under-16s Luke Oliver and Sahil Handa put on 40 and the ninth between?Handa and? Haaris Sohoye 24 before the 9th wicket fell on 160. With seven runs needed from the last over Luke Oliver hit the first two balls each for four to secure the victory for Bancroft’s with four balls to spare.
Reed?s came close to overhauling Hampton who made 202 all out. They were chasing well and ahead of the required rate but then lost a crucial wicket in the 32nd over to leave them at eight down with 22 needed off the last two overs. Only three came from the penultimate over and twelve from the last.
I sympathised with Clifton?s Louie Shaw last week because he was left stranded on 99 not out and not realising it as the scoreboard was not working properly. On Saturday he did indeed reach exactly 100 not out, carrying his bat albeit in a losing cause at King?s Taunton.
Results
Stowe 202 (50 overs), *Bradfield 164
MCC XI 149-10 (55.5 overs), *Clifton 153-5
*Clayesmore 176-5 (25 Overs) (O Perrin 100 not out), Poole GS 112-6
*Wellingborough 195-9 (35 overs), Oundle 143
*Oratory 165-4 (20.0 overs) (W Legg 103 not out), Reading 104-9
*Bishop Vesey?s GS 126-9 (20 overs), Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall 121-3
*Wrekin 139 (40 overs), Shrewsbury 142-2
Denstone 169-7 (30 overs), *Shrewsbury 2nd XI 172-3
MCC 276-4 dec, St John’s Leatherhead 277-4
*Malvern 247-5 (45 overs),Worcestershire Under-19 160-8
Bedford Modern 129-4 (20 overs), *Hitchin 83
MCC 246-7 (40 overs), *Bede’s 173-7 (rain)
Lord Wandsworth 167-6 (30 overs), *Christ?s Hospital 171-1
MCC 208-9, *Eton 209-5
SGS (Filton) 217-7 (35 overs), *Blundell’s 130-9
*St Albans 166, Bancroft?s 169-9
Worth 188-8 (35 overs), Caterham 175
*Haberdashers’ Aske’s 169, Felsted 172-2
*Winchester 137, Bradfield 128
Bedford 211-7 (50 overs), *Oakham 212-6
Trinity Croydon 147, St John’s Leatherhead 148-4
*King’s Taunton 355-7 (50 overs) (T Banton 188), Clifton 203 (L Shaw 100 not out)
*Cranleigh 311-4 (50 overs) (O Pope 120), Tonbridge 291-6 (Z Crawley 140)
King Edward VI Southampton 1st XI 98 (50 overs), *Bryanston 99-9
Repton 173 (50 overs), *Shrewsbury 174-6
MCC 89-4 (rain) v *Ratcliffe
King Henry VIII 227-4 (40 overs), *Ratcliffe 163
XL Club 181-8 dec, *Ratcliffe 184-3
*Ratcliffe 245-2 (30 overs) (S Nightingale 140 not out), Welbeck 68
High School of Glasgow 66, *Glasgow Academy 68-0
Wellington (Berks) 333-9 (55 overs) (E Bowcock 107), *Radley 52
*Ashville 228-8 (50 overs), Durham 229-5
Sutton Valence 215-6 (35 overs), *Sevenoaks 121
Huddersfield New College 152 (40 overs), *Woodhouse Grove 118
*Bradford GS 152 (50 overs), Woodhouse Grove 153-8
Denstone 190, *Worksop 194-0
Culford 225-9 dec, Perse 95-5
Bedford Modern 129-4 (20 overs), *Hitchin 83
*St Peter’s, York 247-8 (50 overs) Ampleforth 122
Marlborough 277-7 (50 overs), *Sherborne 185
*Prior Park 200-8 (35 overs), Dauntsey?s 201-2 (R Patel 151 not out) (Monkhouse Intersport League)
*Stamford 241-6 (50 overs) (J Evison 105), Wellingborough 242-1 (B Wall 113 not out, G Groenland 101 not out)
*Winchester 137 (50 overs), Bradfield 127 (H Vaughan 5-15)
*Hampton 202 (35 overs), Reed?s 195-9
Reed?s 136, King?s Canterbury 139-2
*St Edward’s 234-5 (50 overs) (B Charlesworth 104 not out), Magdalen College School 158 (T Scriven 108 not out)
Old Wycliffians 223?8 dec, *Wycliffe 225?1 (N Cooper?Llanes 113 not out)
Wellington (Berks) 333-9 (55 overs) (W Bowcock 107),*Radley 52
National Schools Twenty20
North East section group 1
Durham 145, RGS Newcastle 100-9
North East section group 2
Silcoates 88-6, QEGS 92-5
Silcoates 85-6, Bradford 86-1
QEGS 106-6, Bradford 94-8
QEGS Wakefield win the group
North East section group 3
Worksop College 136-8 St Peter’s, York 58
Hymers College 141 Worksop College 142-0
Hymers College 118-8 St Peter’s, York 119-3
Worksop win the group.
North East section group 4
Woodhouse Grove 188-4, Birkdale 59
Ashville 164-7, Pocklington 144-8
Woodhouse Grove 201-3, Ashville 173-5
Woodhouse Grove win the group
North West section play-off
Merchant Taylor?s Crosby 64, Bolton 65?7
North West section semi-final
Bolton School 104?9, Manchester GS 105?2
Other semi-final still to be played
East section group 2
Stamford 165?6, Rugby169?5
Oundle 117, Rugby 121-3
Rugby win the group
East section group 3
Bedford 169-5, *Wellingborough 133-6
Wellingborough 187-3, *Kimbolton 110-5
*Bedford 137, Stowe 108
Bedford win the group
East section group 4
Perse 128-5, Leys 132-5
Greshams 134-8, Leys 113
Perse 154, Greshams 47
The Perse win the group
East section group 5
Felsted 148-7, Shenfield 93 9
Felsted 170-5, Ipswich 91-8
Felsted 188-5, St Joseph?s 96-8
Felsted win the group
East section play-offs
Felsted 181-5, Perse 120-8
Felsted proceed to the section finals
West Midlands section group 1
Denstone 98-9, Bablake 99-2
Bablake 134-4, Warwick 138-2
Bloxham withdrew
Warwick wins the group; Bablake runners-up
West Midlands section group 2
*RGS Worcester 197-1, Wycliffe 96-4
Monmouth 130-6, Dean Close 131-8
Monmouth 154-7, Wycliffe 153-8
*RGS Worcester 154-5, Dean Close 112
RGS Worcester win the group; Dean Close runners-up
West Midlands section group 3
Bromsgrove 200-6, Queen Mary?s GS Walsall 40
Malvern 138-8, Wrekin 139-5
Queen Mary?s GS Walsall 111-9, Malvern 114-3
Bromsgrove 155-7, Wrekin 110
Bromsgrove win the group; Wrekin runners-up
West Midlands section group 4
*Shrewsbury 138-4, Wolverhampton GS 76-6
Newcastle under Lyme 50, Ellesmere 53-3
*Shrewsbury 117-8, Ellesmere 62-8
Wolverhampton GS 110, Newcastle under Lyme 102
Shrewsbury win the group; Ellesmere runners-up
South East section group 1
Bede’s 125-8, Aldridge 116-7
Ardingly 162, Brighton 89
Ardingly, *Bede’s 103-2
Bede?s win the group
South East section group 2
Eastbourne 132-8, *Cranleigh 133-4
Lancing 106, Hurstpierpoint 111-2
Hurstpierpoint 112-8, *Cranleigh 116-2
Cranleigh win the group
South East section group 3
Duke of York’s RMS win the group. No results supplied
South East section group 4
Kent College 99-8, Epsom 103-4
Simon Langton withdrew; Tonbridge had a bye
Tonbridge 190-3, Epsom 109-6
Tonbridge win the group
South East group semi-final and final
*Tonbridge 218-5, Bede?s 160-9
Dukje of York?s RMS withdrew
*Tonbridge 120-9, Cranleigh 121-9 (T Pettman 5-24)
Cranleigh win the South East section
North London section group 1
Forest 83-9, *St Albans 84-1
North London section group 2
*Mill Hill 79, Berkhamsted 77-8
North London section group 3
*Merchant Taylors’ 214-4, Aldenham 104
North London section semi-finals
Merchant Taylors’ 165-8, Berkhamsted 151-4
St Albans had a walkover after Mill Hill withdrew
North London section finals
Merchant Taylors’ 165-8, St Albans 147
Merchant Taylors? win the North London section
South London section group 1
RGS Guildford 169-5, Trinity 171-4 18.3 overs
KCS Wimbledon 142-9, RGS Guildford 144-5
KCS Wimbledon 121-7, Trinity 110
RGS Guildford win the group on NRR
South London group 2
Whitgift 198-3, Wilson?s 64-6
St George?s 114, Reed?s 115-?
Whitgift 199-5, Reed?s 57
Whitgift win the group
South London section group 3
*Dulwich 194-4, John Fisher 90
St Benedict’s 89, Hampton 95-1
Hampton 155-7 *Dulwich 136-6
John Fisher 126-5, St Benedict’s 128-2
Hampton 141-7, John Fisher 109-4
St Benedict?s 117-8, *Dulwich 121-5
Hampton win the group
South London section group 4
Eltham 166-3, Ibstock 59
Langley Park 94, Chigwell 95-5
Eltham 153-2, Chigwell 113
Eltham win the group
South London section play-offs
*Whitgift 171-4, Hampton 124-7
Whitgift proceed to the South London final
South West section group 1
King Edward?s Bath 146-7, *Beechen Cliff 147-4
*Bristol GS 136-3, Beechen Cliff 138-4
*Bristol GS 136-4, King Edward?s Bath 137-3
Others still to be played
South West section group 2
Taunton 190-5, *Downside 99-5
*Taunton 118-7, Kingswood 119-2
SGS (Filton) 168-4, *Taunton 108-9
SGS (Filton) 90-8, *Kingswood 84-6
Downside 108, *Kingswood 112-0
Others still to be played
South West section group 3
*Clayesmore 109, Plymouth 110-5
Millfield 235-4 (T Lace 110), *Sherborne 109-7
Others still to be played
South Central section group 1
*Winchester 133-9, Abingdon 99
Elizabeth College Guernsey withdrew
Winchester win the group
South Central section group 2
Lord Wandsworth 80 (20 overs), *Bradfield 84-0
Lord Wandsworth 132-9 (20 overs), Radley 118-8
*Bradfield 146-5 (20 overs), Radley 104-8
Bradfield win the group
South Central section group 3
*St Edward?s 104-7, Wellington (Berks) 107-1
Ryde withdrew
Wellington win the group
South Central section group 4
*Oratory 79-9, Portsmouth 80-3
*Oratory 126-8, Marlborough 127-3
Portsmouth 152-4, Marlborough 156-6
Marlborough win the group
South Central section play-offs
Winchester 95-9, *Wellington (Berks) 96-2
Bradfield 91-9, Marlborough 95-4
Wellington play Marlborough in the South Central section final