Preview - Nicholson Cricketer Cup Second Round

Bradfield College where the Waifs take on Eton Ramblers in the second round

Shrewsbury Saracens v Harrow Wanderers Old Merchant Taylors v Old Cheltonians

Old Cliftonians v Lancing Rovers Bradfield Waifs v Eton Ramblers

Old Wellingtonians v Old Hurst Johnians Old Cranleighans v Uppingham Rovers

Rugby Meteors v Oundle Rovers Radley Rangers v Old Millfieldians

A feature of the first round was that there were eight home wins and eight by the away side. In my experience home advantage does usually count and Shrewsbury Saracens have that benefit all the way through this year’s competition, although they come up against high-scoring Harrow Wanderers this time, for whom Lalit Bose made a huge 219 at Dulwich last week. OMTs have had several successful runs in the competition in recent years and have a well-balanced all-round side. Lancing Rovers travel down to Clifton, who they defeated easily in the preliminary round in 2021, the winners having a home game against either Bradfield Waifs or Eton Ramblers, both of whom showed themselves to be strong sides in the first round. One of these sides will be appearing in the final at Arundel, some for the first time in the history of the competition but certainly all for the first time at that venue.

In the bottom half of the draw, there are some potentially big match-ups coming in the quarter and semi-finals, once the second round is completed. There are four sides in this half who have contested an Arundel final, three of them recent past winners. Old Wellingtonians, who won there in 2017, enjoy home advantage over Old Hurst Johnians, who potentially have a host of good Sussex cricketers to choose from, but had to call on the headmaster of Repton, Mark Semmence, to help them edge Eastbourne by one run in the first round. Old Cranleighans’ demolition of a very weak Downside team has set up a home game with Uppingham Rovers, while last year’s finalists Oundle Rovers travel to Rugby who chased over 300 to win in the first round. Finally it is up to Jamie Dalrymple and his Radley side to try to stop the Millfield juggernaut.

Any details of livestreamed matches will be posted when known.