In an elegant variation of Sod’s Law, the final arrival of glorious summer and cricketing weather, after many cricketing days washed out, neatly coincided with most schools enjoying/ suffering an exeat and therefore playing no cricket. However, there were many games of interest last week, even including some 50-over games (see last week). In these days of always-covered pitches it was good to see, in several of my featured matches, an element of the game re-appearing which has largely been forgotten, especially in Test and County cricket, where even the slightest hint of turn seems to breed terror in professional cricketers (or maybe just the commentators).
Not to mention spin more generally which, I can assure you definitively after watching ten National T20 finals, dramatically reduces the run-rate. You don’t have to be a West Indian to like the ball coming on to you and hating it (because you know you can’t resist) when the ball hovers in the air. Even some younger fathers may remember the absurd dictum that overs cricket must mean five “seamers†bowling short of a length (and many other idiocies such as a permanently defensive field – see last week). All such dreary non-thinking and completely wrong.
There was a very odd 20-over game on a real sticky dog (ask your grandfather) at Ardingly in the Langdale Cup. Will Freeman, the Christ’s Hospital skipper, hit two boundaries in his innings of 22, which was the top score in the match. He also took three for five from his four overs of off-spin. No one else on either side hit a boundary. Christ’s Hospital’s astonishingly modest 66 for eight proved ample as they dismissed the hosts for 45.
In what was supposed to be a midweek declaration game, St Peter’s York and the Yorkshire Gentlemen eventually managed to start at 3pm, thanks to sterling work by the ground staff, and decided on a 35-over game. The strong Gents side began slowly, understandably in the conditions, but some late order hitting got them to 155 for six. After a solid start but with the gloom setting in and temperatures plummeting, the school succumbed to the leg-spin of Bevan Fawcett who ended with seven for 35. With the school needing nine from the last over, they lost Harry Contreras to a good catch in the deep on the penultimate ball of the final over for 49, thus losing by one run with nine down.
Epsom and Hurstpierpoint had a superb 50-overs contest. On a pitch giving prodigious turn, chasing Hurstpierpoint’s 216 for nine, Epsom made their way to 171-3. Edward Hughes made a classy 94 before a smart run-out, but some superb leg-spin by Hurstpierpoint’s William Collard and Toby Shepperdson bowled out the hosts six runs short.
Bryanston and King Edward VI, Southampton seem to specialise in tight finishes. Bryanston won the toss and asked KES to bat on a drying pitch. 20 overs into the game Jovan Dhariwal (34) and Ben Millar (47) had put on 80 with little problem when two wickets fell, but at lunch KES were in a comfortable position of 100 for two with 20 overs remaining. Afterwards, they were bowled out for 184 in their final over. In reply, Bryanston found the opening attack of Jacob Fay and Joven Dhariwal simply too good and after 12 overs Bryanston had collapsed to 24 for six. Number six Tom Barber and Max Wiggins survived until tea on 59 for six. Wickets then fell at regular intervals leaving Bryanston on 109 for nine in the 28th over. Barber was now joined by tail-ender Ed Mackay who defended courageously while Barber farmed the strike. Tension mounted as only 33 were needed off the final 10 overs. Barber now attacked, hitting the spinners for six, but then with four overs remaining seam returned and Mackay was brilliantly caught by Ben Millar, the KES keeper, and the visitors were finally bowled out for 171, 13 runs short. Barber finished on 81 not out and typical of the spirit in which this game was played he and Mackay were given a standing ovation as they left the field by the players and supporters of both sides.
The local derby match between Woodhouse Grove and Bradford Grammar School was finely balanced with the latter on 115-2 needing 82 to win from fifteen overs. At this point 15-year-old James Swarbrigg joined the attack. In only his second 1st XI match he took a wicket with his first ball and then finished with figures of four for 14 from 6.2 overs as Woodhouse Grove secured a tense victory by 39 runs.
Results:
*Oakham 154-8 (20 overs), Uppingham 97
MCC 226-7 dec,*Clifton 126
*Hereford Cathedral School 177-6 (40 overs), RGS Worcester 178-3
*Sherborne 109 – (20 overs), Clayesmore 101-8
*Clayesmore 142-7 (25 overs), Poole GS 140-8
*Seaford 100-6 (20 overs), Brighton 101-4
Christ’s Hospital 66-8 (20 overs),*Ardingly 45 (Langdale Cup)
XL Club 195-7 dec,*Ratcliffe 142-7
Dauntsey’s 214-7 (40 overs),*KES Bath 95 (J Grant 6-16) (Monkhouse Intersport league)
*Bryanston 143-3 (20 overs), Ryde 45
Oakham 134-4 (20 overs),*Rugby 106-8
Harrow 97, *Malvern 100-1
King’s Macclesfield 228-5 (40 overs),*Cheadle Hulme 229-3 (E Fluck 155)
Caterham 159-8 (40 overs),*Seaford 160-5 (Martin Berrill Sports League)
*Ashville 39, Durham 41-1
Whitgift 254-9 (50 overs),*Bede’s 224
*Prior Park 95 (40 overs), Dauntsey’s 97-3 (Monkhouse Intersport League)
Wellington (Berks) 225-9 (55 overs),*Radley 166
*Wellington (Berks) 307 (50 overs) (J Davies 146), RGS High Wycombe 113
Haberdashers’ Aske’s 218-6 dec,*Haileybury 154-7
Yorkshire Gentlemen 155-6 (35 overs),*St Peter’s, York 154-9 (B Fawcett 7-35)
Ampleforth 168,*St Peter’s, York 169-2 (H Contreras 102 not out)
*Monmouth 127, RGS Worcester 128-4
Hurstpierpoint 216-9 (50 overs),*Epsom 210
*King Edward VI, Southampton 184 (50 overs), Bryanston 172
Wellingborough 166-8 (45 overs), *Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 146
Brighton College 81,*Eastbourne 82-4
Durham 112-8 (20 overs),*Barnard Castle 96-9
*Durham 243-9 (40 overs)(S Bell 116 ), Durham Pilgrims 187-8 (S Bell 5-45)
Woodhouse Grove 196-6 (40 overs),*Bradford GS 157
Judd 84 (T Gallo 5-14),*Eltham 86-1
Culford School 125 (K Peters 7-47), *Gresham’s 126-2
National Schools Twenty20 competition – cumulative
(some matches in some groups still to be played)
North East section group 1
Newcastle School for Boys 111, RGS Newcastle 112-4
Hymers 103-6, QEGS Wakefield 104-1
QEGS Wakefield win the group
North East section group 2
Hymers 164-3, Silcoates 138-9
Birkdale 118-4, *QEGS Wakefield 119-1
North West section group 1
Altrincham GS 114–5, Kings’, Chester 113
Altrincham GS 96–9, Birkenhead 100 – 7
The Grange School withdrew
Birkenhead win the group
North West section group 2
Hutton GS, Audenshaw HS and St. Ambrose all withdrew
Kings’ School, Macclesfield win the group (by default)
North West section group 3
AKS Lytham 86, Myerscough 90–2
Kirkham 59, RGS Lancaster 60–2
AKS Lytham 143–8, Kirkham 146–6
Myerscough 126, RGS Lancaster 73–7
Myerscough win the group
North West section group 4
This round still to be played
East section group 2
*Oakham 133-6 (20 overs), Oundle 121-9 (H Tyler 5-14)
Stamford 137-7 (20 overs),*Oakham 123-8
East section group 3
Stowe 117-5, Uppingham 63
Stowe 104-6, Rugby 95-7
West Midlands and Wales section group 1
Newcastle-under-Lyme 101-6, Ellesmere 105-6
*Shrewsbury 105-8, Ellesmere 96-7
Queen Mary’s withdrew
Shrewsbury win the group
West Midlands and Wales section group 2
*Wrekin 112-4, Bablake 69
Bromsgrove 155-5, Wolverhampton GS 34
*Wrekin 75, Bromsgrove 76-4
Bromsgrove win the group
West Midlands and Wales section, group 4
King’s Worcester 125-6,*RGS Worcester 123-8
Malvern 181-2, Warwick 85
King’s Worcester 66, Malvern 67-1
Malvern win the group
South East section group 1
St Lawrence 192-5, *Ashford 128-5
Simon Langton GS 197-3 (E Fox 103 not out), *Kent College 115
South East section group 2 (reduced to 5-over matches)
Charterhouse 43-2, Reigate GS 28-1
Reigate GS 25-5, Cranleigh 29-0
Charterhouse 44-2, Cranleigh 30-4
Kingston GS withdrew
Charterhouse win the group
South East section group 3
*Bede’s 159-5, Brighton College 59
*Bede’s 144-5, Hurstpierpoint 114-9
Hurstpierpoint 144, Aldridge 96
Bede’s win the group
South East section group 4
*Tonbridge 166–4, Skinners 100–9
Eastbourne 102–9, *Tonbridge 103–5
Claremont 131-4 Skinners 98
Tonbridge win the group
North London section group 1
*St Albans 137-4, Forest 125-7
NewVic 122-7,*Aldenham 66
North London section group 2
UCS 112, Highgate 92
UCS 65, Merchant Taylors’ 68-0
Moulton withdrew
Merchant Taylors’ win the group
South London section group 1
Whitgift 207-2, Emanuel 71-5
Emanuel 92-8, Epsom 96-2
Whitgift 179-2, Epsom 81-9
Whitgift win the group
South London section group 2
Hampton 143-7, Langley 116
Hampton 188-5, Dulwich 125-7
Hampton win the group
South London section group 4
Lingfield 99-9, Caterham 100-3.
Trinity 96, Reed’s 97-0
Caterham 96-7, Reed’s 97-5.
Reed’s win the group.
South West section group 1
Downside 98-6 (20 overs),*Clifton 101-2
*Clifton 124-5, Colston’s 42-2 (9 overs); Clifton win on D/L
Colston’s 120-9, Bristol GS 110-5
Clifton win the group
South West section group 2
Stroud and South Glos 127-6 QEH 99-7
Taunton 102-6, Stroud and South Glos 103-5
South West section group 3
Blundell’s 70, Plymouth 73-4
South West section group 4
Sherborne 107, King’s Taunton 108-1
South Central section group 1
St Edward’s 175-6,*Dauntsey’s 140-3
St Edward’s 203-5 (H Ward 101), Elizabeth (Guernsey) 149-7
Elizabeth (Guernsey) 112-8,*Dauntsey’s 116-9
St Edward’s win the group
South Central section group 2
Abingdon 106 (20 overs),*Wellington (Berks)Â 107-3
Reading Blue Coat withdrew
Wellington win the group
South Central section group 3
Marlborough 124-4, Portsmouth GS 125-4
Magdalen College School 245-2, Portsmouth GS 103
*Marlborough 105-8, Magdalen College School 108-6
Magdalen College School win the group
South Central section group 4
RGS High Wycombe 107-8, Lord Wandsworth 109-2
RGS High Wycombe 109-7, Shiplake 110-0
*Radley 181-6, Shiplake 92
Lord Wandsworth 72, Radley 75-2
Radley win the group
South Central section group 5
*Bradfield 140-4, Winchester 68
*Bradfield 166-7), John Hampden GS 90-5
The Oratory withdrew
Bradfield win the group
THE CRICKET PAPER NATIONAL SCHOOLS Under-17 CUP
[In this section I have retained the organisers’ layout etc]
Group1
Sedbergh 239–5 beat Newcastle Boys School 142
Sedbergh (H) to play Merchant Taylors Crosby (A)
King’s Macclesfield 131-3 beat Chaedle Hulme 77
Myerscough OT (H) to play Kings Macclesfield
Regional Final
HOME Sedbergh or Merchant Taylors V AWAY Myerscough OT or Kings Macclesfield
Group 2
Denstone 90-2 beat Ellesmere College 88
Denstone (H) to play Bromsgrove (A)
Bablake beat QMGS Walsall
Shrewsbury (H) to play Bablake (A)
Regional Final
HOME Shrewsbury or Bablake v AWAY Denstone or Bromsgrove
Group 3
Bristol GS 193-9 (M.Brewer 101) beat Cathedral Llandaff
Millfield 55-0 beat Bristol GS 54
Clifton College 129-2 beat Kings Worcester 126-8
Taunton School beat Clifton College
Regional Final
HOME Millfield v AWAY Taunton School
Group 4
Trent 83-2 beat King Edwards Stratford 82-8
Trent (H) to play Moulton College (A)
Stamford School beat Uppingham
Oundle (H) to play Stamford School (A)
Regional Final
HOME Trent or Moulton College v AWAY Oundle or Stamford School
Group 5
Bedford Modern 84-8 beat RGS High Wycombe 79
Bedford School beat Bedford Modern
Warwick School to play Stowe
Bradfield (H) to play Warwick or Stowe
Regional Final
HOME Bedford School v AWAY Warwick or Stowe or Bradfield
Group 6
Tiffin to play Shiplake
Tiffin or Shiplake (H) to play Eton College(A)
Winchester 176-6 beat Sherbourne 150
Winchester 191-4 beat Portsmouth GS 120
Regional Final
HOME Tiffin or Shiplake or Eton College v AWAY Winchester College
Group 7
Norwich 115-2 beat Greshams School 114
Norwich School (H) to play Shenfield HS (A)
New Hall School 173-6 beat Woodbridge 102-7
Brentwood school (H) to play New Hall School (A)
Regional Final
HOME Norwich School or Shenfield HS v AWAY Brentwood School or New Hall School
Group 8
Hitchin Boys beat Aldenham
Merchant Taylors Northwood 177-4 beat Hitchin Boys 90-6
Whitgift 120-1 beat Simon Langton 119
Whitgift beat Bedes 81-8
Regional Final
HOME Whitgift v AWAY Merchant Taylors Northwood