Quarter-Final Preview

The quarter-finals of the Beechbrook Capital Cricketer Cup take place this Sunday, 13 July. The most competitive match seems to be the meeting at Bradfield between the Waifs, holders of the cup, and Old Millfieldians, winners in 2021 and beaten finalists in 2022. Much will depend on availability but Tom Ettridge has been in form for the Waifs and Nick Pang for Millfield, while Charlie Ellison plays for Millfield at the school where he teaches.

The other game in the bottom half of the draw sees Old Tonbridgians, beaten finalists in the last two years, travelling to Repton, whose promising young side, captained by James Sookias, had a good win at Eton in the last round. Repton have not ever beaten Tonbridge in eight Cricketer Cup matches, so will be hoping for a change of fortune, while Tonbridge will be encouraged by coming away from Malvern with a four-run victory.

In the top half of the draw, there is a chance for a team which has never won the cup as Stowe Templars take on Old Bedfordians at Stowe. The Templars had a comfortable victory against Charterhouse Friars, while Bedford chased down over 200 at Sherborne without losing a wicket. The winner of this match will have a home draw against Old Cranleighans or Old Cliftonians. After a fallow few years since they won the cup in 2018, Cranleigh have been in ominously good form and will hope to have ex-Warwickshire wicket-keeper Michael Burgess in their side to bolster an already powerful batting line-up, led by Alan Cope. Clifton, their opponents, have beaten Oundle and Eastbourne and have some good young players in league cricket in the West.

All four games will start at 11.30 and will hopefully be scored on the Cricketer Cup’s Play Cricket site so that scores can be followed.