Success at cricket week

Old Cranleighans 252 for 8 dec lost to Woodpeckers 253 for 7 by three wickets
After the Woodpeckers, a wandering team whose roots lie the the Fleet Street press but are now based in and around the Alma pub in Wandsworth, stepped in to replace the Eton Ramblers at the last minute, there was just one talking point ... Alan Cope.

At Eds Copleston's wedding the night before, Ed Henderson had received a message from the opposition captain pleading for the OC's to provide one cricketer, one capable of opening the bowling no less. He heard that Cope was keen to play and lined him up. On the morning the of the match Henderson tried hard to persuade one of his less important players, notably Henry Watkinson, to switch sides but without success. Meanwhile the opposition kept in his ear that they needed a good cricketer to make a game of it and that Cope was probably the man.

It didn't look like it was going to be a costly decision as all four times Cope induced an edge from Jumbo Jupp, Morgan Fletcher and Tom Garland, they were put down. Jupp went on to compile a good looking 129 with others chipping in so that the OC's were able to declare at the halfway point.

Elliot Hannah bowled a good new ball spell removing one opener whilst Henderson at the other end had the other opener dropped at point and he went on to make 50. Cope entered the fray at 4 and set about putting together a fine 91 including a six into the pavilion of Henderson. A difficult chance was dropped by Starling which, had it been taken, would have changed the outcome of the match as a late flurry of wickets revealing a weak tail showed. In the end, Cope had done enough and the Woodpeckers scraped home with an over to spare and Henderson learnt a lesson he will not be allowed to forget.

Old Milfieldians 120 all out lost to Old Cranleighans 121 for 6
A relatively weak OM side was bowled out in a clinical performace on a scorching day by a typically miserly 4-22 from Mike Chetwode and a clever display of leg spin from Seren Waters (5-25). There were a few scares in the reply as the experienced top order of Brown, Colgate, Watkinson, Copleston S and Worthy mustered little between them against some good bowling. Fortunately with Matt Crump (27*) and Waters (38*)still to come at 7 and 8 there was little chance of a genuine upset and they saw us home.

Old Georgians 122 lost to Old Cranleighans by 5 wkts
Report to follow once we have the full scorecard.

Grasshoppers 262 for 4 dec lost to Old Cranleighans 264 for 6 by four wickets
This was an extraordinary match and must rank as one of the great OC wins in recent years made even more impressive by the inexperienced side and the match winning contributions of debutants and recent leavers.

The Grasshoppers batted for an antisocial 65 overs and in the course of that innings, their Australian number 3 was dropped by Jock Vickers in the 30's. Whether the statement was volunteered by Jock or if the words were shoved into his mouth, an arrangement was made on the pitch that Jock would stump up £1 for every run the Aussie went on to make from there. He ended on 152* leaving Jock with a debt of £120 to the Tim Evans trust. On appeal, after the game this was reduced to £60 taking into consideration the mitigating circumstances that a) Jock is no Jony Rhodes and b) he needs to start saving to look after his forthcoming baby.

To make the events all the more unusual, Mike Chetwode, who has been showing considerable prowess in the catering department alongside Louise, bowled 21 overs without taking a wicket. Debutant Alex Szepietowski bowled nicely and grabbed a couple.

At 22-2 after Vickers and Damien Hill and been and gone, we seemed to be facing an uphill battle especially as we would only get 47 overs back. However, Rob Merry, in the form of his life hit 62 but it was numbers 7 and 8, Morgan Fletcher (73*) and Alex Szepietowski (61*) who turned the game on its head with outstanding, mature knocks to win a great game.

Old Carthusians 202 all out lost to Old Cranleighans 207 for 5 by five wickets
A slow wicket at Charterhouse called for bowlers of the ilk of Mark Ealham, Scott Styris and Chris Harris to bowl full and straight and the OC's found that in Andy Houston (3-21) and Rob Jones (2-23) whilst at the other end, Pullborough left arm spinner Struan Cameron (3-37) bowled beautifully. Cameron could have had 7 wickets were it not for missed catches and stumpings but he carried on plugging away and understood that he needed to take the fielders out of the equation.

In reply, Max Barson was bowled first ball and quickly follwed by Vickers (who had earlier caught a catch) and Will Langmead who hit one to mid on. At the other end Gates was batting stylishly and the onlookers began to wonder if we were going to see the kind of match winning innings from him that he has promised since 2002. He got us a good way there but ran himself out on 49 going for his glorious 50th. Cope (36) was going well at the other end making up for a wayward spell with the ball, until he was stumped off the only ball that the Charterhouse spinner 'had spun all year'.

Charlie Clarence-Smith (62*) then took up the attack batting powerfully and selectively, assisted by the calm Rob Jones (43*) to win us the game in a composed all round performance.