Fairly widespread heavy rain on Friday, made for some difficult playing conditions, both wicket and outfield, not to mention cancellations. Hence, unusually, there were a great many low-scoring games as can be seen from results below. I suppose, also, many matches were reduced from being all-day as it is the middle of a busy period for exams, especially GCSE.
At Bristol Grammar School, King Edward’s Bath struggled against the pace of Adam Hares, who took six for 20 and reduced the visitors to 110 all out. All was not plain sailing, however, as Bristol looked set for defeat in a 30-overs game when they were still only 59 for five with just nine overs remaining. At this point Hares (31 not out) and Harry Abel (18 not out) held their nerve to put on an unbeaten 52 runs in only eight overs to give Bristol a somewhat unlikely victory. Hares has taken 14 wickets in four games so far, including a hat-trick against Sir Thomas Rich’s in their opening game.
There was also a last-ball thriller at Cranleigh, with the home side scoring a remarkable 24 from the last over (two needed from the last ball but four struck) to defeat Eastbourne by two wickets. In a 50-over contest Eastbourne, put in, struggled at first but rallied thanks to a partnership of 114 by Fiontan Logan (82) and Oliver Streets (54). Cranleigh responded in measured fashion at 48 for three from ten but were slowed by the spinners, especially Tawanda Muyere’s off spin (5-14). This left the home side needing 42 from the last three overs and indeed 22 from the final one. That they achieved this on the final ball of the innings with a boundary was due to a remarkable 37 off 13 balls by Jonte Marshall. The last over featured five fours and one wide.
One striking exception to the mostly low-scoring was at Repton who entertained Worksop, in this case rather too generously by inviting them to bat. It might have seemed a wise move when one opener was removed in the second over but any celebrations were premature as number three Ruben Senekal joined Patrick Delahunty and put on a partnership of 278 in just 32 overs. Senekal scored 186 in just 109 balls, with 13 fours and 14 sixes, Delahunty with 114 in 110 balls with 14 fours and one six. Worksop reached 364-5 in just 40 overs. Repton in reply, after reaching 43 for three, were demolished by opening bowler Josh Porter with six for 30 from his eight overs including a hat-trick. What an astonishing performance by the two Worksop batsmen and their opening bowler.
As regular readers know, this is the sort of school game which I hate: lovely for the dominant side and their marketing department but just embarrassing for the losers (in this case a very distinguished cricketing school). All they can do is gallantly chase the impossible target and make themselves look foolish. Worse than that, if that sort of thing continues with an inexperienced side, it drives possibly promising young players from the game who next year may choose swimming or frisbee.
Results:
Downside Wanderers CC 151 (35 overs),*Downside 153-6
*Haileybury 284-1 (55 overs) (M Levitt 175 not out), Leys 268-7 (J Davies 134)
*Haberdashers’ Aske’s 190-8 dec, Haileybury 191-4
*Haileybury 137-5 (20 overs), New Hall 117-6
*Perse 96, Haileybury 97-1
XL Club 171-8 (35 overs),*Wellingborough 172-4
Haileybury 192-5 (20 overs),*Felsted 115
Winchester 203-6 (30 overs),*Bryanston 199-6
*Dauntsey’s 219-8 (40 overs), King Edward’s, Bath 88 (Monkhouse Intersport League)
Myerscough 166-9 *Denstone 167-2
*Queen Mary’s GS 198-4 (20 overs), Old Swinford Hospital 159-7
*Durham 216-5 (40 overs) (S North 106 not out), Ashville 202-8 (T Reynolds 5-19)
Sherborne 112 (20 overs),*Bryanston 113-7
*Bedford Modern 148-4, Hitchin Boys 98
*Sedbergh 195-6 (45 overs), Shrewsbury 181
MCC 176-8 dec, *Oakham 177-7
Glasgow Academy 116-4 (20 overs),*High School of Glasgow 103-5
*Seaford 113-8 (20 overs), Brighton 114-6
King Edward’s Bath 110 (A Hares 6-20),*Bristol GS 111-5
Eastbourne 210 (50 overs),*Cranleigh 213-8 (T Muyeye 5-41)
Sedbergh 140,*St Peter’s, York 142-5
Watford GS 211 (40 overs),*Haberdashers’ Aske’s 194
St Edward’s School 226-6 (45 overs),*Malvern 182
*Wellingborough 211-8 (45 overs), Bloxham 196-8
*Caterham 113 (35 overs), Christ’s Hospital 117-2
*Trinity 283-6, Lancing 133
Marlborough 112,*Winchester 113-5
Sir Thomas Rich 44,*King Edward’s Birmingham 45-0
Stamford 209,*Oakham 142
*Dulwich 247-4 (A Kenningham 119 not out) Brighton 215-6
Gents of Suffolk 175, *Framlingham 178-7
Framlingham 211, St Joseph’s 174.
Framlingham (girls) 76-9. Royal Hospital School 77-2.
Bede’s 261-9 (50 overs),*Ardingly 132 (J Sarro 5-13)
*Haileybury 251-6 (40 overs), Bishop’s Stortford College 137-6 (rain – Haileybury won under DLS)
King’s Worcester 150 (S Swingwood 5-23),*Monmouth 98
*Berkhamsted 170-7, St Albans 61
Worksop 364-5 (40 overs) (R Senekal 187, P Delahunty 113),*Repton 98 (J Porter 6-29)
*Bradfield 269-7 (50 overs)(S Gumbs 124), Radley 180 (H King 5-34)
*Magdalen College School 279-6 (50 overs), Bradfield 169
Latymer Upper 184-2 (20 overs), Kingston GS 167-8
Woodhouse Grove 209-5 (30 overs),*Ampleforth 168-4
*St. Paul’s 204-5 (50 overs), Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 205-5
For the National Schools T20 and The cricketer paper Under-17 competition, see Latest results.