Quarter- Final Review - Nicholson Cricketer Cup

The completion of the quarter-finals has meant the semi-final games on 24 July will be

Old Cheltonians v Bradfield Waifs

Old Wellingtonians v Old Millfieldians

The surprise packet is Cheltenham who have never before reached a final but have now prevailed in testing away matches at Ampleforth, OMTs and Shrewsbury. This last game was another high-scoring affair, with Cheltenham posting 317 all out in the final over and the Saracens bowled out in their final over but 25 runs short. The Cheltonians are a team of all-rounders, with the three Jameson-Black brothers to the fore. It was Jono Jameson-Black who led the way with 93 off 98 balls, helped by his brother Jamie with 51 at number eight off only 26 balls, and the prolific Ben Ringrose with 59. Home with 4-48 was the best of the Shrewsbury bowlers. In reply on a benign wicket Shrewsbury reached 235-3 with 12 overs to go thanks to Carrasco’s 77 and Ben Williams 58, but with both gone at 251-5, the Shrewsbury tail could not deliver. George Sandbach with 3-34 and Ben Ringrose with 3-51 led the way, but Jono Jameson-Black finished a good all-round day with two late wickets.

The Cheltonians will be pleased to have a home game against Bradfield Waifs, who are mounting a strong challenge with wins over Marlborough, Eton and now Lancing. The Waifs put together a formidable score down on the south coast of 286-7 in their 50 overs after being 16-3, and this was without Harry Came, their captain and centurion from the win over Eton. It was Hugo Darby who led the way with 142, ably assisted by Jack Bransgrove with 73. Matt Lee took 3-54 for the Rovers, who were without the services of Mason Crane, their England leg-spinner who had played the match-winning role at Clifton in the previous round. Ryan Maskell scored 59 opening for Lancing, but the next highest score was Hector Loughton with 24, as wickets fell steadily, and they were all out for 189 in 44 overs. Ollie Birts with 4-35 was the leading wicket-taker.

The most heavyweight tie of the quarters was the repeat of last year’s final between Oundle Rovers and Old Millfieldians. This time Oundle had home advantage, won the toss and made a good start, with 34 from Rory Osmond and 46 from Simon Fernandes. Greg Smith was still in at 173-3, but wickets now started to fall and Smith himself was out for 54 at 197-6. Nick Pang with 4-18 and Ali Easton 3-67 cleaned up the tail and Oundle were all out for 231 in the final over. Millfield lost Rory Hamilton-Brown early and when Ed Wade went for 52 at 106-4 and Fin Trenouth for 20 at 132-5, Oundle’s hopes were raised, but Nick Pang, the match-winner from the 2021 final, again proved Oundle’s nemesis with 73 off 68 balls. When he was out at 199-6, there was a slight wobble as Tommy Simeons picked up two more wickets to take 5-69 in all, but Charlie Vickery and Ali Easton took Millfield home with over 4 overs to spare.

Millfield’s semi-final will be away at Wellington where a close contest was resolved in the Old Wellingtonian’s favour, also by 2 wickets. Old Cranleighans batted first and found themselves 83-7, but Matt Crump with 33 made a useful contribution in the lower order to take them to 184-9 in their 50 overs. Adam Dewes with 5-21 was the pick of the Wellington bowlers. Welllington were themselves in trouble at 47-3, but Joe Lewis, a recent school leaver, batted with great composure for 56 and the lower order did enough to get them over the line.