Another first-round defeat in Cricketer Cup

Old Cranleighans 193 for 8 (Waters 71) lost to Eton Ramblers 213 for 9 (Horne 62, Cope 4-59) by 20 runs
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For the second year on the trot our Cricketer Cup ended at the first hurdle, and for the first time in six matches in the competition we lost at home. At 68 for 5, Eton Ramblers were on the ropes, but they recovered well to post 213 for 9 in 50 overs, and although we reached 90 for 1, our innings lost momentum and as the run-rate climbed we fell away badly, eventually losing by 20 runs. There could be no complaints that the better side on the day won.


The start was not auspicious - possibly because a majority of the side had attended the Foundation Ball the night before and were in various states of disrepair – as Henry Watkinson’s first four deliveries of the day went for 14 runs. In fairness, he finished with figures of 1 for 28 off eight overs, which with 14 off the first and eight off the last overs accurately showed he only got better. Matt Crump shared the new ball but was all over the place, shipping ten wides in his five overs; Alan Cope, who bowled very well in fits and start, bowled eight, and in the end extras – 21 wides and five no-balls, all uncharacteristically from spinner Graham Webb – proved the difference between the teams.

After our woolly start we recovered well. Watkinson removed the dangerous-looking Vanderspa for 20, and then Cope took a brace of wickets in his second and fifth overs, a reward for a good line and length aided by some very indifferent batting. But we appeared to relax slightly, and Hobson and Bruce calmly rebuilt the innings with a sixth-wicket stand of 73. Hobson, who made 62 off 135 balls, provided the rock for the recovery, and while our spinners (Webb and Seren Waters) proved hard to get away, they did not look like breaking the stand until Bruce was well held by Cope off Waters for 32. The over before Bruce had deposited Waters through the back window of a car parked next to the pavilion to general amusement.

Max Barson’s bustling medium pace struck one run later when Thompson chased a ball so wide he did well to get the toe of his bat on it, Will Howard taking a good low catch, and at 144 for 7 off 39 overs we again seemed to be in the box seat. But Farley, batting at No. 8, then took to the bowling with a mixture of orthodoxy and improvisation, and our bowlers were unable to keep him in check. Hobson’s excellent innings ended when he was run out taking on Matt Crump’s arm from the deep, but Farley pushed on. Harry Chetwood hit a couple of fours, was hit on the head by Cope, and then run out by Crump in his follow through when he slipped mid-pitch. A target of 214 was more than seemed likely at one point and represented what Stuart Welsh reckoned was a par score. To our credit, our fielding was outstanding, even Michael Chetwode being forced to admit it might have been slightly better than in “his day”.

We started solidly, with Seren Waters and Rob Jones, batting right back on his stumps to counter the pace of Bruce, driving and pulling with confidence. The introduction of spin did for Jones, but Matt Crump and Waters pushed the innings on so that at the halfway point we were 90 for 1. When Waters departed for 71 to the first ball of Bruce’s second spell, we were still in the driving seat needing 73 from 13 overs, but then it started to go wrong as a succession of batsmen got bogged down, and then as wickets started falling our middle order lost its way. A lack of experience and some tight bowling, especially by Chetwood, caused us to start playing a succession of desperate shots. Boundaries dried up, and in the end we were left flailing.

It was good to see a large number of former and current players supporting the side, despite the frustration of a wasted trip to Eton last week and another day of indifferent weather.

We have now lost four of our last five matches in the Cricketer Cup – tough draws have not helped – but we can take satisfaction from the youth of our side. Whether we are necessarily serious enough about the competition is another matter, and there has to be some soul searching before next season’s first round.