Review of Nicholson Cricketer Cup First Round

All games were completed in good weather across the country. In the top quarter Shrewsbury Saracens had a convincing win against St. Edward’s Martyrs with Jamie Crawley making a superb 107 for the winners on his Cricketer Cup debut. They now host Harrow Wanderers who compiled the day’s biggest score of 418-6 at Dulwich, Lalit Bose making an imposing 219 off 144 balls. OMTs travelled to Brighton and had a comfortable win by 75 runs thanks to 97 from Ashane Wijesuriya, who also took 3-27, and 86 from Jawwad Rasheed. They now host Old Cheltonians who travelled up to Ampleforth where they won by 68 runs.

In the second quarter the stand-out result was Lancing Rovers’s win over Old Tonbridgians in a low-scoring game. Tonbridge were bowled out for 127, Henry Gane taking 4-25, and Lancing won by 4 wickets. England leg-spinner Mason Crane also played for Lancing. They now travel to Clifton after Old Cliftonians had an easy win over Stowe Templars by 119 runs. Bradfield Waifs scored 332-7 at Marlborough, Imran Malik making a superb 146, and Marlborough Blues were bowled out for 217 in reply. Bradfield now host Eton Ramblers who crushed Felsted Robins. Eton made 325-7 with a fine hundred from Will Vanderspar, 94 from Tom Shaw and 84 in 30 minutes from Al Russell. Felsted could only muster 119, Fergus Boyd, playing his first Cricketer Cup match for 16 years, taking 3 wickets. With Old Tonbridgians out, and all other recent past winners in the bottom half of the draw, there is a great opportunity for a new name at Arundel in August.

In the third quarter of the draw, Old Wellingtonians beat Haileybury Hermits by 57 runs, and will now play Old Hurst Johnians, who won the most exciting match of the day by 1 run at Eastbourne. Hurst mustered 197-7 in their 50 overs, and Eastbourne seemed to be cruising while Kent batsman Twanda Muyeye was making 85, but they were bowled out 1 run short with more than 10 overs to spare. Old Cranleighans demolished Downside Wanders, bowling the hosts out for just 53 and knocking off the runs in only 4 overs. They now host Uppingham Rovers who had a comfortable win over Old Bedfordians by 66 runs.

There was another tight game at Winchester where Rugby Meteors chased 303 to win by 2 wickets with 4 balls to spare. Ollie Mills scored an unbeaten 105 for Winchester and took 4-54, but this was surpassed by Jake Kings’ 142 for the Meteors. Oundle Rovers will be the visitors to Rugby after they crushed Repton Pilgrims by 9 wickets, Ben Graves with 52 not out after taking 3-22. Radley Rangers had a similarly easy win over Old Cholmeleians by 10 wickets after bowling them out for 83. Their visitors in the second round will be holders Old Millfieldians who had a resounding win over Charterhouse Friars. James Hamblin rolled back the years with a superb century for Charterhouse, but Millfield chased down their 211 in only 19 overs.

Full scorecards can be found on Cricket Archive and the competition’s Play Cricket site. The second round matches can also be found on the website.