First Round Completed

All the first round games of the Beechbrook Capital Cricketer Cup were successfully completed yesterday, despite some dodgy weather around the country over the weekend. There were some excellent matches, one or two surprise results and some stand-out individual performances. Several present or recently past first class players joined their teams for the matches..

The very competitive bottom half of the draw saw a great game at Malvern against old rivals Shrewsbury Saracens, where new sponsor Paul Shea was present. Shrewsbury batted first and current Worcestershire batsman Ed Pollock made 56 of their 210 total. In reply Old Malvernians were 3-3, Worcester seamer Joe Leach taking two wickets in his first over. Former Worcester keeper Alex Milton then repaired the damage with a great knock of 82, and Mahaz Ahmed’s 58 not out took the hosts to victory in the last over by 3 wickets. Malvern now play perennial rivals Old Tonbrdgians who had an easy win against Old Brightonians, Tom Coldman taking 5-25. Eton Ramblers made the long journey to Ampleforth and won easily by 167 runs, while Old Millfieldians chased down Monmouth’s 200 in only 23 overs, winning by 8 wickets, with Nick Pang taking 5-21 and Joseph Eckland making 67 not out off only 26 balls..

The holders, Bradfield Waifs, only just got over the line at Rugby, while Old Cheltonians won easily at Winchester, Jono Jamieson Black making 83. At OMTs, the home side could only make 156, which Old Hamptonians overtook with 3 wickets in hand. Repton Pllgrims’ easy home win against Old Cholmelians was marked by an outstanding performance for each side. William Tarrant made 122 for Repton, putting on an opening stand of 205 with William Hobson. Facing a massive total of 306, the Cholmelians were dismissed for 124, of which Ben Miller made a remarkable 89 off 58 balls, out of just 102 made while he was at the wicket and last out.

In the top half of the draw there were some easy wins for Old Bedfordians at Haileybury, and Sherborne Pilgrims at home to St. Edward’s Martyrs. Old Alleynians scored 244 at Radley but this was easily overtaken by the Rangers for the loss of only 3 wickets thanks to 95 from Rory Betley and 46 not out from current Hampshire batsman, Nick Gubbins. Stowe Templars overcame Harrow Wanderers by 92 runs thanks to a great individual performance from W. Pickard with 46 and 5-18. Marlborough Blues were bowled out for only 113 at Cranleigh, easily overtaken by the home side without needing much from former Warwickshire wicket-keeper, Michael Burgess. Old Cliftonians overcame one of the perennial favourites, Oundle Rovers, by just 21 runs at Bristol. They now travel to Eastbourne, who won a very tight game by 9 runs at Hurstpierpoint, D.Kumar making 92 and A.Hunter taking 4-16 for the winners. The best batting came from the Charterhouse pair, Alex Gordon-Martin and 46 year old former Hampshire all-rounder, James Hamblin, who both scored hundreds and put on 189 for the third wicket in the Friars’ comprehensive win over Lancing Rovers.

The second round will be played on Sunday 29 June and is made up of the following matches:

Stowe Templars v Charterhouse Friars

Sherborne Pilgrims v Old Bedfordians

Radley Rangers v Old Cranleighians

Old Eastbournians v Old Cliftonians

Eton Ramblers v Repton Pilgrims

Old Malvernians v Old Tonbridgians

Old Hamptonians v Bradfield Waifs

Old Millfieldians v Old Cheltonians

Nick gubbins (Radley Rangers and Hampshire)