Thrilling finish at Clifton in Cricketer Cup Quarter-Finals

The Beechbrook Capital Cricketer Cup has now reached the semi-final stage after two home and two away wins on Sunday.

The most exciting game was at Bristol where Old Cliftonians reached their second successive semi-final with a two-run win over Old Hamptonians. Clifton batted first and made 251-9 in their 50 overs, Ollie Meadows top-scoring with 52 and solid contributions down the order. Rob Bentley took 4-61. Hampton made an excellent start, 102 for the first wicket with opener A Srivastav making 70, but Clifton pegged them back thanks to good spells from Ryan Kilmister and Jonny Sadler. Guy Harper, Hampton’s centurion as an opener against Tonbridge, came in at number four this time and made 64 not out off 64 balls. Rob Bentley joined him at 181-6 and made 32 not out, as their partnership looked to have won the game.. Hampton needed 7 off the final over, with four wickets in hand, but Will Naish bowled a great over, restricting them to just four runs.

Old Cliftonians will now host fellow west countrymen in Old Millfieldians. At Millfield, the home side made 276-9 against Oundle Rovers, with top contributions from Luke Pearson-Taylor with 65 and David Scott 62, Tommy Simeons took 4-45 and Hugh Hayward, making his debut aged 17, took 4-54. Oundle were still in the hunt when James Esler 51 and Greg Smith 50 were putting on 80, but wickets tumbled and they finished well short. Scott completed a good all-round match with 3-34.

Two recent winners of the Cricketer Cup clashed at Bradfield in a low-scoring game on a poor wicket. Old Malvernians, with a powerful batting line-up, were 47-5 at one point but Alex Milton held the innings together with 71, helped by Myles Holland 26 and Flynn Gunston 24, so that they struggled to 174-9 off their 50 overs. Bradfield Waifs also struggled at 64-5 and 124-8, eventually being bowled out 21 runs short for 152. Crofton Keyes top-scored with 38 and Freddie Wynn took 3-30.

Malvern will now host Old Wellingtonians in the semi-final. Wellington travelled to Wales to play Old Monmothians, batting first and making 250-7. Jed Crerar opened and held the innings together with 94, helped by Adam Dewes with 31, Cian Davies taking 3-24. Monmouth started well at 129-2, but once Hugo Caldicott was out for 60, wickets began to fall and they were all out for 174. Tom Williams took 4-27 and JJ Dewes 2-29 in his 10 overs.

Old Cliftonians’ winning team