Exciting First Round Matches

Some remarkably exciting matches marked the first round of the Beechbrook Capital Cricketer Cup yesterday on a fine day throughout the country. A one-run win, a four-run win and two one-wicket wins were matched by an amazing comeback by the Eton Ramblers at Shrewsbury.

2025 winners, Old Bedfordians, fell at the first hurdle as they went down by 70 runs at Wellington. The OWs scored 225 after being 64-4, Adam Dewes holding the middle order together with 59. Bedford started well but the innings fell away against the Wellington spinners, JJ Dewes completing a good family day with 3-22.

The 2025 beaten finalists, Old Tonbridgians, had a more successful day at Uppingham where they made 283-6 thanks to 126 from former Kent player Marcus O’Riordan. This was too big a total for the Rovers to chase and they succumbed for 230.

The closest match was at Harrow where the Wanderers scored 212-8. The Sherborne Pilgrims’ last-wicket pair needed ten to tie and go into a golden over but fell agonisingly one short with a run out off the last ball of the 50th over.

Giants of the competition in Old Malvernians and Old Millfieldians could only scrape home by one wicket, both in home matches. At Malvern, Rugby Meteors made 238-7, Alec Price making 119. He then took 3-46 as Malvern struggled, but Joel Cox with 56 and Josh Dickenson 38 not out just took them home by one wicket with a ball to spare.

Miillfield were strong favourites at home to Old Hurst Johnians, whose record in the competition is sub-optimal, but Hurst brought along a secret weapon in Italy international and T20 World Cup star Marcus Campopiano who made a thrilling 115, Sidney Thompson taking 6-41 for Millfield. The Millfield chase was nip and tuck all the way, but 70 not out from David Scott took them home by one wicket.

There was an equally close high-scoring game at Eastbourne where Old Eastbournians made 317-8, Ed Nolan 81, and St Edward’s Martyrs came within four runs of that total, Ben Jacobs making a fine 116.

The outstanding win of the day belonged to Eton Ramblers at Shrewsbury against a very strong Saracens team, including three recent County players in Ed Pollock, Joe Leach and George Garrett. Eton succumbed to 34-5 and 93-6 before a brilliant unbeaten stand of 197 between Finn O’Brien 140 not out and Will Hope 76 not out took them to 290-6. Ed Pollock made 67 and Joe Leach 60 but the Saracens fell 30 short.

There were only four away wins in the sixteen games, so Marlborough Blues’s win at Repton was certainly noteworthy. Marlborough’s youthful attack kept the Pilgrims to 165 and Ed Kilbee with 62 steered them to a five-wicket win. The other away win was by Felsted Robins at OMTs by 33 runs in a relatively low-scoring game.

Bowlers were also on top at Charterhouse where Old Cheltonians could only make 158, Jimmy Hawkings 6-44, but the Friars struggled home by 3 wickets. At Monmouth, Old Brightonians only had nine players and were bowled out for 32, Tom Vickers 5-14, and the home side cruised home in only four overs.

Oundle Rovers had an easy home win against Old Wykehamists. Charlie Fernandes 84 not out and Greg Smith 58 took the Rovers to 233-7 and Winchester could only muster 120. Old Hamptonians also cruised home against Lancing Rovers, bowling them out for 197, M Nicholls 5-48, and then winning by 7 wickets in only 27 overs, A Srivastan 90 not out and T Godfrey 66 putting on 167 for the first wicket.

Old Cliftonians also had a strong opening stand of 132 between Jonny Sadler 56 and Ollie Meadows 77, winning by 84 runs against Stowe Templars at Bristol. Radley Rangers built on their win in the bye round by comfortably chasing down Haileybury Hermits’s 234-7. Ethan Berlusconi with 75 and Ollie Martyn-Hemphill 52 put on 120 for Radley’s first wicket, the Rangers winning by 7 wickets in only 40 overs.

The Bradfield-Cranleigh match of two former recent competition winners seemed the biggest clash of the day but the Waifs won easily at home by 84 runs, Finn Brabham having a good all-round match with 55 and 3-38. Not even 78 from former County player Michael Burgess could save Cranleighians.

The second round will be played on 28 June, with ten former winners of the Cricketer Cup among the sixteen teams and some mouth-watering matches in prospect.

Old Cliftonians v Charterhouse Friars

Old Hamptonians v Old Tonbridgians

Felsted Robins v Old Millfieldians

Old Eastbournians v Oundle Rovers

Marlborough Blues v Bradfield Waifs

Harrow Wanderers v Old Malvernians

Eton Ramblers v Old Monmothians

Radley Rangers v Old Wellingtonians

Old Wellingtonians team against Old Bedfordians