2018 Cricketer Cup - Semi Final

The semi-finals had to be replayed after rain washed out play on the previous Sunday. At Uppingham, Old Malvernians won the toss and elected to field - the wicket looking a little green in the middle of a light brown ground.   Simon Harwood took a couple of early wickets, both caught behind, on a wicket certainly not easy with uneven bounce. Shiv Thakor played cautiously but well, top-scoring with 81 off 106 balls. Aardash Shah the young leg spinner bowled beautifully, along with the Worcestershire left arm spinner Ben Twohig who took 5-41. Uppingham Rovers were all out for 219 in 49.4 overs. The general feeling was that it constituted a decent score on that wicket and would require careful batting.  

So it proved with runs not easy to come by. There was a sensible opening partnership of 41 in 11 overs before both openers fell in quick succession.  In came Alex Milton, fresh from his 104 not out on debut for Worcestershire only to receive a really good delivery from Loyd and was bowled first ball. At 51-3 Uppingham were in with a shout but the pairing of Yorkshire's Kohler-Cadmore and Worcestershire's Twohig then played superbly, taking the score to 214 -4 before Twohig tried to win the game with a six and was bowled for 54. Two more wickets quickly followed before the win was achieved in 48.2 overs, Kohler- Cadmore finishing with 80 not out.

At Bedford there was an excellent game played on a very dry wicket where spin dominated proceedings. The Old Cranleighans won the toss and, having reached 95/1, were in a strong position. Then Vicram Sohal (2/26) claimed two wickets in two balls and when Paddy McDuell (2/39) trapped Seren Waters lbw for 41, the score was 105/4 and the game well balanced. Two wickets for Shiv Patel (3/31) in an over left the visitors 163/6 but they battled their way up to 225 all out, which looked about par on a tiring pitch. The Old Bedfordian response was checked early as they lost key man James Kettleborough for 19 and found themselves 67/4 after 20 overs. Christian Davis held the middle order together to keep his side in the hunt, but when he was dismissed for 67 the score was 168/7 and despite some late hitting from Ed Wharton (21), the OBs were all out for 209, falling just short at the semi- final stage for the second year running. Will Rollins took 4-39.

The final at Arundel on Sunday 12 August at 11.30 is therefore a repeat of the 2016 final which was won by Old Malvernians.

(David Walsh)