Cricketer Cup - First Round Results and Summary

The Cricketer Cup had a beautiful sunny day across the country as the first round was contested. There were some fine individual performances and a tied game at Eastbourne, which brought much delving into the playing regulations. There was also the first livestreamed game, at Hurstpierpoint, which attracted 330 viewers.

At Eastbourne, Old Eastbournians batted first and made 158, recovering from 55-8 thanks to Charlie Hobden’s 51 coming in at number 10. Bradfield Waifs should have been cruising at 133-4 but lost their last two wickets with the scores level, Hobden taking 4-27. Bradfield were awarded the match by the umpires after a countback into the scores in previous overs. Bradfield will now play OMTs, 2 wicket winners at Sherborne. OMTs were 153-7, chasing 222, when 49 year old Adam Brand, Cricketer Cup Vice President, came out to join Nikhil Rawal. They put on 61 before Rawal was out for a fine 105 and Adam then guided his side to victory with 10 balls left.

The holders, Old Tonbridgians, made a very confident defence of their trophy with a huge win at Hurstpierpoint. Fabian Cowdrey scored an elegant 118 for Tonbridge, with good contributions from Cambridge Blues Ed Hyde with 90 and Alex Moen 82 not out, before Old Hurst Johnians succumbed for 177. Tonbridge will now travel to Radley, who had an easy win over Rugby Meteors by 8 wickets, thanks to an excellent all-round contribution from Middlesex batsman Nick Gubbins, who made 81 and took 3-32

Lancing Rovers could not repeat their win in the bye round, losing by 8 wickets to Old Millfieldians. Millfield’s next opponents will be Marlborough Blues who won an excellent game at Marlborough. Repton Pilgrims seemed to be heading for a huge score after J. Sookias made 122, but collapsed from 231-3 to 252 all out in 44 overs. Billy Mead made a brisk 67 for Marlborough but at 128-5 they appeared to be struggling. A partnership between Ed Kilbee 105 not out and J. Bunn 44 not out then saw them home by 5 wickets.

Harrow Wanderers demolished Old Cholmelians, bowling them out for 107 and racing home by 10 wickets in only 12 overs. They will have a tougher task in the next round, away at Malvern. Old Malvernians made 253-8 with A. Milton making 102 and F. Wynn 80, before bowling out Old Bedfordians for 160, Mark Hardinges turning back the years with 2-11 in 6 overs and Josh Haynes 3-35.

Old Brightonians enjoyed a comforable win against Old Alleynians, bowling them out for 128 and getting home by 5 wickets. Brighton’s next match will be at Eton, the Ramblers making the long journey to Ampleforth, for the first time in 45 years, to win comfortably by 61 runs. Eton batted first, Al Russell with 72 and Max Ritchie with 46 leading the way in their 224 all out. Russell then took four catches behind the stumps as Ampleforth never recovered from the loss of three early wicket to be all out for 163, Charlie O’Kelly top-scoring with 51.

Old Cranleighans had what turned out to be a comfortable win against Felsted Robins but only after their 10th wicket pair had put on 68 to take the Cranleigh total to 222. Freddie Austin with 60 and Sam Austin 26 not out were the Cranleigh heroes, with Felsted only managing 160 all out. Old Cranleighans will now play Stowe Templars, winners at Winchester in a splendid game of cricket in which 522 runs were scored, Stowe winning by 12 runs.

Oundle Rovers, 2019 finalists, had a comfortable win over Charterhouse Friars. Ben Graves had a fine all-round day, making 102 and then taking 2-19 as Charterhouse fell 74 runs short of Oundle’s 250. They now play St. Edward’s Martyrs, winners over Old Wellingtonians. St. Edward’s made 243, A. Woodland top-scoring with 66, and then bowled out Wellington for 190, despite the presence in the Wellington side of Northants batsman Ben Curran. B. Kingsnorth made 85 for Wellington, while F. Simon with 4-15 and F. Vainker 4-28 did the damage with the ball.

Uppingham Rovers were bowled out for 190 at Haileybury, the Hermits going on to win by 5 wickets. Haileybury will now host Old Cheltonians in an echo of their games at Lord’s in yesteryear. Cheltenham had a crushing win by 162 runs at Downside, Jock Jameson-Black taking 7-39 in only 7 overs as the Wanderers collapsed to 89 all out.