The quarter-finals of the Nicholson Cricketer Cup were all completed yesterday. Whereas in the previous round seven out of eight games were won by the home sides, this time three away sides triumphed. What was also noticeable is the gradual reduction in scores - six scores over 300 in the first round and only one over 200 in the quarters, as school wickets start to deteriorate at the end of a busy season.

At the top of the draw Old Tonbridgians went to Bradfield without Fabian Cowdrey and Marcus O’Riordan, both injured, and with five players who had left school in the previous two years. Bradfield Waifs’s innings never got going against the more experienced seam of Hugo Snape and Oli Howick, and the spin of youngsters Joe Baldwin and Harry Bevan Thomas. The Waifs too were missing key players and Tom Ettridge, coming in at number 7, was the highest scorer with 36. Howick, who had only been summoned to play the previous evening to replace Cowdrey and is now something of a veteran in Cricketer Cup terms, took 4-37. In reply Tonbridge stuttered at 99-5, with Harry Bevan Thomas making 51 of these, but the experienced hands in Howick, who made 40 not out, and Tom Elliott 16 not out ensured that no more wickets were lost and the target was easily achieved with 13 overs to spare. Howick was named Nicholson MOTM.

They now play Eton Ramblers at Tonbridge, with Eton winning the most exciting match of the day on a turning and bouncing wicket at Millfield. Old Millfieldians could only make 183-9 in their 50 overs, Ed Wade top-scoring with 40. In reply Eton were 91-3 and then 113-7 before Finn O’Brien and Beagles put on a crucial 47 runs when Beagles was bowled for 23. They then slumped to 179-9, with 5 to win off two overs, but a heroic 1 not out by Freddie Fox, embodying the Jack Leach spirit of 2019, helped O’Brien, who made a crucial 47 not out and hit the winning four through the covers, to get Eton over the line with 3 balls to spare. O’Brien also took 2-34 in the Millfield innings and was named Nicholson MOTM.

Old Malvernians travelled to Clifton and won comfortably in the only rain affected game. They made 227 in their 50 overs thanls to debutant Joel Cox with 61, Ben Tegg 52 and Josh Haynes 40. Old Cliftonians were set a revised DLS total of 205 in 41 overs and fell 38 runs short with 8 wickets down, Josh Haynes taking 3-17. Joel Cox won the Nicholson MOTM award.

Malvern now host Oundle Rovers in what has been a long run of such matches between these opponents. Oundle bowled out Old Wellingtonians for 155 at Oundle, Will Street taking 2-25. They were then indebted to their captain Greg Smith who made a classy 65 not out to take his side home by 4 wickets and win the Nicholson MOTM award.

Semi Finals on Sunday 23 July

Old Tonbridgians v Eton Ramblers at Tonbridge

Old Malvernians v Oundle Rovers at Malvern