Second Round Review - Nicholson Cricketer Cup

All games were completed in generally fine weather and there were again high class individual performances and close matches. At the top of the draw Shrewsbury Saracens had an easy victory over Harrow Wanderers. Shrewsbury made 238-8 off their 50 overs with Ruaidhri Smith making a brilliant 100 off 126 balls. In reply Harrow could not reproduce their high-scoring from the first round and were all out 111, with Steve Barnard taking 5-10 in 6 overs. Shrewsbury now play Old Cheltonians in the quarter-finals after they chased down a big home score at Old Merchant Taylors. OMTs made 332 all out with Aaran Amin top-scoring with 67 off 39 balls, but Cheltenham paced their reply brilliantly, winning by 4 wickets with 5 balls to spare. Ben Ringrose made 80, JH Jamieson Black 83 and George Sandbach 50, but OMTs lamented the dropping of ten catches.

There was a tight game at Clifton where the home side was bowled out for 130 by Lancing Rovers. Lancing were themselves in trouble but 79 not out by England and Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane took them over the line by 4 wickets. Lancing will now host Bradfield Waifs who had a comfortable win at home against Eton Ramblers. Eton’s score of 217 was much below par on a benign Bradfield wicket, only Finn O’Brien with 74 getting past fifty. Derbyshire’s Harry Came then steered Bradfield home with 10 overs to spare, making a fine 109 not out, well supported by Hugo Darby with 56.

Old Wellingtonians had an easy win at home against Old Hurst Johnians, Adam Dewes making 63 and Pete Young 56 in their total of 211-8 before Hurst were bowled out for 134 by spinners JJ Dewes with 4-29 and Mike O’Donaghue 4-25. They will now play Old Cranleighans who made heavy weather of chasing down the 196 of Uppingham Rovers. Cranleigh subsided from 139-3 to 181-8, when Jack Scriven was out for 51, but tail-enders Howard and Bovill held their nerve to win with 5 overs to spare.

At Rugby Oundle Rovers were also given a tight game. The Meteors made 241 in 50 overs with runs all down the order following 54 from Jake Kings, the centurion of the first round. Will Street with 4-30 was the best of the Oundle bowlers. in reply Oundle were 168-6 and 221-7 before Tommy Simeons and Patrick Foster took them home by 3 wickets with 10 balls to spare. In the quarter-finals they now host Old Millfieldians in a repeat of the 2021 final. Millfield made 340-5 at Radley, led by Ed Wade with 127, George Hankins 59 and Rory Hamilton-Brown 65 not out. This was too much for Radley Rangers although England one-day all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple led the way with 54, B Beaumont taking 5-38.