All the first round matches were completed on Sunday 9 June, with fine weather across the country. In the top quarter of the draw, Old Cheltonians made the highest total of the day of 375-7 in beating Old Cliftonians by 158 runs, Jacques Sharma making 109 for the winners. Old Amplefordians had a good win at Repton, chasing down 285 for the loss of only 4 wickets. N Shaik made 119 for Repton and Toby Pratt 135 not out for Ampleforth. Old Brightonians had a comfortable home win over the Cholmelians, while James Hamblin, fresh from his induction into the All-Time Hall of Fame XI, rolled back the years for Charterhouse Friars, taking 2 wickets and then scoring 97 not out as they beat Shrewsbury Saracens at Charterhouse.

In the second quarter Old Malvernians had a comfortable home win against Sherborne Pilgrims, Dan Holland with a fine all-round performance of 83 not out and 5-50, and they will now play Old Merchant Taylors who had the second highest score of the day, 351-6 in demolishing Lancing Rovers by 199 runs, with five batsmen scoring half-centuries and Aaran Amin taking 5-56. Bradfield Waifs took the road into Wales and beat Old Monmothians, thanks to 84 from Hugo Darby and 51 from Harry Came, released from Derbyshire duties. Charlie Gwynn had the day’s best bowling figures with 6-17 in 10 overs. Bradfield will now host Old Bedfordians who beat Old Hurst Johnians at home.

Old Hamptonians continued their winning ways by beating Felsted Robins by 7 wickets and they now host Old Wellingtonians who bowled out Old Alleynians for 126 and cruised home by 7 wickets. The day’s best game was at Cranleigh where the hosts chased down Marlborough Blues target of 270-8 to win by one wicket on the last ball, thanks to 115 not out from George Ealham. This is the second year running that Marlborough has agonisingly lost by one wicket on the last ball of the match. Cranleigh will now host Haileybury Hermits who had a surprisingly easy win over Uppingham Rovers, R Carter taking 5-30.

The bottom quarter has some strong sides in it. Old Wykehamists collapsed from 150-3 to 166 all out at Tonbridge, Henry Cope taking 5-13 in 6 overs, and then last year’s Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year, Ollie Sykes made 92 off 63 balls to take Tonbridge home by 7 wickets. Their next opponent is Harrow Wanderers who beat Downside Wanderers by 130 runs, thanks to 83 off 40 balls from C Stone and 5 wickets for J Nelson. Possibly the biggest upset of the day was Radley Rangers’ defeat of Oundle Rovers by 5 wickets at Radley, former England all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple guiding them home with 55 not out. Their next opponents at Radley will be Old Millfieldians, who will have to win the hard way from the bottom of the draw but made a good start by beating Rugby Meteor by 70 runs.

The second round will be played on Sunday 30 June and the draw is as follows

Old Amplefordians v Old Cheltonians

Old Brightonians v Charterhouse Friars

Old Malvernians v Old Merchant Taylors

Bradfield Waifs v Old Bedfordians

Old Hamptonians v Old Wellingtonians

Old Cranleighians v Haileybury Hermits

Old Tonbridgians v Harrow Wanderers

Radley Rangers v Old Millfieldians