Crump routs Shrewsbury in Cricketer Cup semi-final
Old Cranleighans 228-9 (Waters 67) beat Shrewsbury Saracens 33 (M Crump 6-7) by 195 runs
Curtley Ambrose, 1993 Perth. Shoaib Akhtar, 2002 Colombo. Steve Harmison, 2004 Sabina Park. There are very few spectacles in sport more compelling than a spell of hostile fast bowling. The creation of an atmosphere so electric, every moment lasts an eternity, every dismissal prompts an earthquake. Matthew Crump produced such a display as he ripped into the Shrewsbury batting order, sending the jubilant Old Cranleighans into the Cricketer Cup final.
Uphill and into a stiff wind, the OC captain sent down seven overs of his most potent bowling, collecting career-best figures of 6 for7. From ball one, Crump settled in on a line outside off-stump and proceeded to bowl with late swing and vicious seam. His first victim fell wafting loosely outside off-stump, neatly taken behind by debutant Michael Burgess. The next four departed plumb leg-before, the low wicket providing the perfect foil. The sixth, disorientated by the pressure created, played back to a full pitched delivery leaving his castle exposed. It truly was a spell of enormous passion.
Crump’s demolition succeeded a rather modest Cranleigh batting performance. Despite a low wicket and a slow outfield, a weak Shrewsbury bowling attack deserved more of a pumping than 4.5 an over. Yet again Seren Waters held the innings together with a stoic 67, ably supported by a useful 35 from his opening partner Bradley Scriven. Waters has been in impervious form this summer but has arguably yet to catch fire in this competition, despite four significant starts. He will no doubt be relishing the prospect of making amends in the final.
The rest of the Cranleigh innings arguably resembled the pop career of Taylor Swift; sheer brilliance, interspersed with complete crap. Timely boundaries and calculated partnerships were rudely interrupted by daft shot selection and foolish run outs. Perhaps the most comic moment of the day came unsurprisingly with Tom Crump at the crease. Crump, whose batting is rarely ever easy on the eye, became bogged down by the most military of left-arm spinners and so attempted a reverse paddle to relieve pressure. Crump completely lost his balance as the ball rebounded off his pad into the vacant gully area for an easy single. Alan Cope, at the non-striker’s, promptly called for the run only to be sent back when all of three quarters of the way down the wicket. His bails were duly dislodged.
Yet the semi-final will be remembered for bowling. Matthew Crump, partnered superbly by the aggressive Will Rollings who claimed three wickets himself, produced one of the most compelling spells of fast bowling this fine competition has ever seen.
Special mention must go to all those OCs who have supported Cranleigh’s Cricketer Cup campaign thus far. Your kindness is always appreciated. A special mention also to Will Howard. This column is aware it has not been particularly kind to Will in the past, but his presence at Shrewsbury really did motivate the team. And a thank you to all those who joined in on the club’s celebrations that night at The Ship – we are aware that many of you avoid nights out with Will Howard like the plague, and so we are very grateful. Finally, thank you to Polly Rhodes for scoring on the day – lovely to have you.
Paddy 'Bit Part' Harman
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| Matt Crump celebrates in the Ship |
Uphill and into a stiff wind, the OC captain sent down seven overs of his most potent bowling, collecting career-best figures of 6 for7. From ball one, Crump settled in on a line outside off-stump and proceeded to bowl with late swing and vicious seam. His first victim fell wafting loosely outside off-stump, neatly taken behind by debutant Michael Burgess. The next four departed plumb leg-before, the low wicket providing the perfect foil. The sixth, disorientated by the pressure created, played back to a full pitched delivery leaving his castle exposed. It truly was a spell of enormous passion.
Crump’s demolition succeeded a rather modest Cranleigh batting performance. Despite a low wicket and a slow outfield, a weak Shrewsbury bowling attack deserved more of a pumping than 4.5 an over. Yet again Seren Waters held the innings together with a stoic 67, ably supported by a useful 35 from his opening partner Bradley Scriven. Waters has been in impervious form this summer but has arguably yet to catch fire in this competition, despite four significant starts. He will no doubt be relishing the prospect of making amends in the final.
The rest of the Cranleigh innings arguably resembled the pop career of Taylor Swift; sheer brilliance, interspersed with complete crap. Timely boundaries and calculated partnerships were rudely interrupted by daft shot selection and foolish run outs. Perhaps the most comic moment of the day came unsurprisingly with Tom Crump at the crease. Crump, whose batting is rarely ever easy on the eye, became bogged down by the most military of left-arm spinners and so attempted a reverse paddle to relieve pressure. Crump completely lost his balance as the ball rebounded off his pad into the vacant gully area for an easy single. Alan Cope, at the non-striker’s, promptly called for the run only to be sent back when all of three quarters of the way down the wicket. His bails were duly dislodged.
Yet the semi-final will be remembered for bowling. Matthew Crump, partnered superbly by the aggressive Will Rollings who claimed three wickets himself, produced one of the most compelling spells of fast bowling this fine competition has ever seen.
Special mention must go to all those OCs who have supported Cranleigh’s Cricketer Cup campaign thus far. Your kindness is always appreciated. A special mention also to Will Howard. This column is aware it has not been particularly kind to Will in the past, but his presence at Shrewsbury really did motivate the team. And a thank you to all those who joined in on the club’s celebrations that night at The Ship – we are aware that many of you avoid nights out with Will Howard like the plague, and so we are very grateful. Finally, thank you to Polly Rhodes for scoring on the day – lovely to have you.
Paddy 'Bit Part' Harman
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