Semi-Final Preview

The Nicholson Cricketer Cup reaches the semi-final stage this weekend - with places beckoning for the final at Arundel Castle on 7 August. The results can often depend on availability of players, as other cricket commitments or overseas holidays start to influence things. The most successful Cricketer Cup teams are usually those which keep much the same team through all rounds.

Old Cheltonians finally get to host a game on the College ground, their semi-final against Bradfield Waifs squeezed in between two Gloucestershire County Championship matches. Cheltenham have been the surprise packet of this year’s competition but away wins against Ampleforth, OMTs and Shrewsbury show that they should not be underestimated. The three Jameson-Black brothers and Ben Ringrose have made big contributions to totals over 300 in the last two rounds. Bradfield Waifs are usually strong and potentially have plenty of good players to call on, but they will await anxiously the availability of Harry Came who is pushing for a first team place at Derbyshire.

The other semi-final is at Wellington where the Old Wellingtonians try to stop the Old Millfieldians’ march to a second consecutive trophy. Wellington have 9 out of the 11 who beat Old Cranleighans, including school-leaver Joe Lewis who anchored the successful run chase. Batsman Jack Davies, who played for Middlesex last week, comes into the team, while Alex Shoff returns for his first game since the first round, when he scored 95 at Haileybury. Brothers Adam and JJ Dewes are both spinners of high quality, while Ben Curran of Northants also plays. Millfield welcome back Julius Sumerauer, who has just played in a T20 World Cup qualifier for Jersey, but will again rely on Ed Wade and Harry Ellison for runs, and on Charlie Ellison and Charlie Hartley for wickets.