Burly Vickers helps OCs regain the Colin White Trophy

OCCC 120 for 5 (19.2 overs, Vickers 42) beat Cranleigh School 118 for 8 (20 overs) by five wickets with four balls to spare 
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Jock Vickers on the attack

Following a run of defeats against the school on Speech Day the selectors picked a blend of experience and youth to try and wrestle the Colin White Trophy off the school. With the Cricketer Cup side in action over the road, selection might be the wrong word, but those enlisted enjoyed a game played in brilliant sunshine in front of a large crowd.

Eds Copleston won the toss and elected to field , a decision which looked to have backfired as Hamilton and Thomson were expensive early on as field restrictions were in place and the school started aggressively reaching 50 off the first six overs. The introduction of "Bruno" Broughton and Morgan Fletcher saw us take control - Broughton struck in his first over before a mad run out in the covers saw the veterans Copleston and Jock Vickers combine well to leave the school 70 for 4 at the half way mark. The accurate bowling of Goodie and Broughton squeezed the game despite some dropped catches and the school never managed to accelerate. Stuart Welch found it harder and harder to hide his frustration as the School stuttered to a very reachable 118 off their 20 overs.

Trower and Wescott opened the batting for the Old Cranleighans and provided a solid start before Wescott and No.3 Broughton fell quickly. Enter Vickers, wide of girth and ambition, who was still mumbling about his disappointment at not being selected for the Cricketer Cup side. he is not a shoo-in for any Twenty20 side as his size makes running anything other than a wheezed single unlikely, but if a ball is there to hit he will oblige with real power and the School bowlers obliged and the run-rate rocketed. His 34 ball 42 put us within reach of victory, ably assisted by some patient batting at the other end by Trower.

 Both men fell with 30 still needed and, to their credit, the School then squeezed the remaining batsmen well and boundaries dried up. But some excellent running between the wickets by the young Corbishley and the creaking Copleston left us needing five off the last over. Copleston used all his accumulated experience to sneak the second ball wide of the keeper for four and the OCs had finally regained the silverware.

An excellent game and we look forward to playing the school again on Thursday.
Ed Copleston

A win's a win as we see off Haileybury

OCCC 238 for 8 (Cope 66, Crump T 30, Burgess 30) beat Haileybury Hermits 191 (Billings 66, Waters 3-51) 
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Alan Cope - delivered what he owed

After a convincing display to see off Merchant Taylor’s in the first round of the Cricketer Cup, it took a more workmanlike effort to beat Haileybury Hermits by 47 runs in the second round on the Lowers. As Matt Crump, the captain, said afterwards: “It wasn’t one of our best performances but a win’s a win.”

After a convincing display to see off Merchant Taylor’s in the first round of the Cricketer Cup, it took a more workmanlike effort to beat Haileybury Hermits by 47 runs in the second round on the Lowers. As Matt Crump, the captain, said afterwards: “I wasn’t one of our best performances but a win’s a win.”

We lost the toss and were stuck in on a pitch which had received a drenching the day before. As expected, it was a damp early on but aside from keeping a little low at times, played well if a little slow, and the outfield was sluggish meaning boundaries were at a premium.

We lost Seren Waters (0) in the third over to an usually poor shot, caught at gully as he tried to cut a wide delivery, and then Jack Scriven (16) to a leading edge not long after.

Alan Cope(66), by his own admission, owed us some runs and he duly delivered, pushing singles well and keeping the scoreboard moving as Haileybury’s spinners rattled through the overs. With Tom Crump (30), another who had been quieter of late, he added 88 for third wicket.

Key moment - Michael Burgess dives to dismiss Billings

Crump’s dismissal was followed by a series of cameos, with the remaining batsmen all making starts but unable to go on to play the big innings. Cope looked set for his first hundred in seven seasons when he was strangled down the leg side, a mode of dismissal made worse by the fact the wicketkeeper, out until 4am and not in the best of health, had held on to little else all day.

Michael Burgess (30), Matt Crump (22), Ollie Davis (17) and Elliot Hannah (20*) batted well in the circumstances although as Haileybury had won their first-round match by nine wickets, the general feeling was our score was 20-30 below par.

Our opening bowlers – Matt Crump and Rollings – were again wayward and conceded extras, Rollings’ three no-balls in his first two overs especially painful as under new rules they also result in a free hit. Crump produced his shock ball – the straight one pitched up – to remove one opener while Rollings had the other caught behind by the impressive Burgess.

This brought in Billings, who it soon became clear was going to be the key batsman, looking to have the time and range of strokes his colleagues lacked. He did us two favours, however, twice pushing the ball to Waters in the covers and twice managing to run-out his partner as water’s thunderbolt throw to Burgess left them floundering.

At 70 for 4 we were still in the box seat but Billings was a concern as he started to cut loose, taking a liking to Scriven who had until his penultimate over been strangling the run-rate. Twice he was smashed for six, and in between that came the one moment of controversy as Billings edged, Burgess celebrated and the umpire remained unmoved. The batsman admitted he had nicked it but, as was his right, waited for the decision.

Burgess stares, Billings stands and the catch was not given

The match turned in the 35th over with Haileybury 164 for 5, the previous four overs having produced 31 runs, and Crump looking to be running out of ideas. Scriven, in his last over, found Billings’ edge, the ball rebounded behind Burgess off his pad but he acrobatically twisted and dived back to hold the catch.

The sense was Haileybury had little more to offer, and so it turned out. Waters, who had taken some tap earlier on, took 3 for 12 in his second spell and Rollings, still struggling for consistency, one more. What had looked to be building to a tense finale half-an-hour earlier turned out to be a comfortable win.

"It was a workman like performance from the team, we didn't perform to our maximum but managed to get the job done,” Crump said. “It’ll be a very tough game against Cheltenham in the next round but a game we are really looking forward to."

Seren Waters strikes as the tail folded

George Best, late nights and getting marriedEd Henderson interviews ... Alan Cope

Alan Cope is a 25- year- old batsman who plays for Malden Wanderers, OCCC, MCC, Arabs and August Flies. He owns a pair of snooker table green chinos. He is one of a long line of OC cricketers who has worked for Headstart Advisers yet one of the few who has not been made redundant. He took part in this interview in work hours.

Alan Cope on his way to a hundred in India

Copey thanks for agreeing to be the next person to be interviewed. You seem to have been around OCCC a long time. When did you make your debut?

I believe I made my debut as a 15 year old (so if my maths doesn't let me down, 10 years ago...) in a successful Brewers Cup Final v Hurstpierpoint Old Boys. Again if I remember correctly, this also was my first night out in London... memories of drinking out of the cup (that went missing and never to be found) will remain with me forever..

Roll forward three years from that and you were on tour in India with us as an 18 year old. I think it was there that someone coined the nickname 'George Best' for you. Remind me why that was and was it fair?

I was indeed. I joined the tour party from Perth where I was playing cricket on my gap year. The nickname was coined by Hobbs, Copleston and Rosenfeldt, for an apparent improvement in performance directly correlating to the increased amount of boozing on the prior evening... something George Best was well versed in.

Is the nickname still apt for the seasoned, mid-twenties Alan Cope?

I believe so. I went through probably my most unsuccessful season for the OC's last year, having prepared 'properly' in the modern day professional sense of the word, for every game. I can assure you that I will score a lot more runs this year in the Cricketer Cup, and it won't come via quiet, early nights.

Since your year we have pulled in a lot of the leavers from School each year and hopefully they enjoy it and stick around. What appealed to you about OC cricket when you first got involved?

I think having a much older brother I've always enjoyed socializing with people a lot older than me. Throw in some great people, some great experiences and a good standard of cricket played in the correct manner you have a stunning package!

Good to hear! Going back to India you scored a fine hundred in Goa which the discerning Tristan Rosenfeldt cited as one of the best innings he has seen. Is that your finest OC innings and do any others stand out?

I think it probably was to be honest, although I think a 70 odd in a run chase setting up the win against Harrow in our first year in the Cricketer Cup was a close 2nd there.. I think they are probably the only two innings' I've played for the OC's of any worth to be honest... I promise more in the years to come!

Celebrating a catch at the Cricketer Cup final

Who do you most like batting with?

Anyone but Tom Crump, his strike rate applies pressure and lack of aesthetically pleasing strokes pains the eyes. That said, he has been one of the more successful OC batters in recent history, and we wouldn't have got to the finals we have done without him.

Well that brings us incredibly neatly to the most important question of the day. Tom Crump – you're old Loughborough uni flatmate... goodness knows what that means he will have seen – and Matthew Crump your old mucker. You now live with both of them. Seriously, which one do you like best?

They are both a nightmare to live with. I guess Matt just pips it as I see him marginally less often.

Hmm, diplomatic. You have stopped short of coming out and saying 'Matt Crump is the better bloke.' It's ok it starts to get a bit awkward, we're dealing with human emotions, people get hurt I understand that. So, which one of the three of you will get married first?

Would have to say me, as God help me if I haven't tied the knot with someone before those two!! However, Rog (Tom) has been seeing rather a lot of one particular OC ball attendee lately, so we'll see how that develops. One thing is for sure, I very much doubt I'll be in the running for best man after this interview.

Not for poor Tom no, you've crucified him. You may as well name the girl now? No I really can't. So back to cricket. You need to score 16 from the last over, which OC bowler do you choose to face?

I'll stick with the housemate theme and say Matt Crump, as you'll get at least 6 of those runs in wides alone.

Good of you not to choose Gates like everyone else does!

Well, seeing as he is sat opposite me I feel I can't, and with his record in Sarasota it would actually be a lie saying i'd like to face him.

Who would you say are the best fielders in the club (excluding you of course)?

Paddy Harman is without doubt the best fielder. He is as good as any I've seen within the club and the Surrey Leagues.

[Email to J.Gates] Gatesy sorry to interrupt you this Friday 2pm but are you satisfied that Alan Cope is working hard today?

Male bonding in St Lucia

[From J Gates] I’VE HEARD HE’S DOING AN INTERVIEW FOR YOU! He’s currently talking to me about Hansen discussing the test series in New Zealand………………..

Bog standard working day at Headstart Advisers – invest your money with Headstart people! [Back to A.Cope] 

How do you view our Cricketer Cup progress and chances in the next few years?

There seems to be a general feeling of disappointment coming from above regarding the fact that we keep 'underperforming' (not winning finals isn't exactly underperforming). This is still a very inexperienced team that is building towards great things. I don't think we are there yet, but if we keep getting to semis and finals we will start winning and regularly. The other aspect was the manner in which we played, whilst I agree that we don't want to be called 'yobs' or be known as 'the loud mouthed chavs' Cranleigh, the Cricketer Cup is becoming increasingly competitive and there is less room for being the most polite gentlemen at all times. It's play hard cricket these days, without the Saturday fierce sledging.

I don't think anyone is criticising the performance last year which was excellent and we were close to winning the final too. There were a couple of instances of excessive appealing which were complained about by one or two spectators but it was no more serious than that and it has been dealt with. The feeling about the Cricketer Cup side is very positive now.

Which county or international cricketer would you most liken yourself to?

When I was younger and could bowl, I always aspired to be a poor man's Jaques Kallis.

I've said it before and will say it again. You bowled extraordinary legspin as a seven-year-old in the Blackheath nets. You could have been the next Ian Salisbury.

I really wish I had continued, both because I was a lot better at that than I ever was a seamer, and my back may well have lasted a little longer too.

Ok, let's return to OC touring because for a man of your years you have really notched them up – India, SA & Zambia, St Lucia and some Sarasota's. Give me your view on touring, picking one randomly... Zambia?

George Best

With touring and touring with the OC's its not necessarily the destination that is important. Obviously that is the initial lure that brings people to the table. But it is the diversity of people, age groups and cricketing ability that makes these tours so special! You end up becoming very good mates with people twice your age (and sometimes more) or that you would never otherwise meet let alone become close to (some of the precarious coach journeys in Zambia, India, and St Lucia will eternally bond you together as the fear of death takes over). Whilst we didn't play any cricket in Zambia, it was an incredible cultural experience for all. With Victoria Falls a stone's throw from our hotel rooms, monkeys stealing food at the breakfast table and Zebra often walking through the pool area. Throw in the White Water Rafting down the Zambezi and the best New Year's party of all time. What more can one ask for?!

You kindly saved my life in the Zambezi. Thanks, decent of you. Now on the subject of that epic NY Eve party would you fill in the following gaps please...

"At around 8pm and before anyone was drunk, I, Alan Cope unzipped my _____ and unleashed my _________. I looked around for some unsuspecting ______ and approached them with my ________ on display wondering if they would notice. One of the girls happened to be English and immediately recognised not my face but my __________. It was an extraordinary coincidence"

Very good Hendo, very good! I can confirm that this was one of the most extraordinary coincidences of all time! Probably best that the gaps are left unfilled/that paragraph is left out all together!

Yes of course, I'll leave that paragraph out don't worry. Did you kiss Louise Chetwode that night?

Hmmm, that I cannot confirm.

Ok the OCCC dinner party question – 1 over 40, 1 under 25, one WAG and a wild card. There is vintage Bordeaux on the sideboard, some of the finest food known to man on the menu, velvet smoking jackets... who do you invite?

Mike Chetwode would be my over 40! My favourite OC. Bradley Scriven would be my under 25 - as he'll bring along some suitable girls for the after dinner activities. Melissa Johnson or Holly Henderson for WAG. Nathan Ross (AKA Random) for Wild Card.

Good selection. Let's look at the OCCC youngsters for a minute. There is a tremendous crop of under 23's. Who do you have high hopes for coming through not necessarily on the pure cricket front but who in 30 years time might be OC legends.

I think Huggy (James Harrison) is definitely going to be an OC legend (not sure if he is still under 23!) And Chitty definitely looks like he has potential too! Both the Scrivens, Burgess and Rollings will be the core of the Cricketer Cup team for many a year to come!

Ok a bit of quickfire... :

The best dressed? Chetters

The Charmer? Paddy Harman

The Oddest? Curly Craven or Damien Hill. Have you not met Paul Vickers?

The one most likely to end up in prison? Copleston. No initial needed.

The future OC captain? Huggy Harrison

Which qualities do you hope people see in Alan Cope the man?

Wow, that's deep Hendo. I guess, hopefully, a team player both on and off the field, not a complete waste of talent, still with some big knocks left for the OC's, fun loving and up for most things (that are legal).

Copey, thank you. Good luck for the season, I am sure there are more OC hundreds in the pipeline. Thanks for your contribution on and off the pitch to OCCC in the last 7 years.

Jack Scriven bludgeons us to Cricketer Cup victory

Old Cranleighans 332 for 4 (Scriven J 176, Waters 66, Cope 36) beat OMTs 80 (Rollings 3-20) by 252 runs

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A big hundred from Jack Scriven laid the platform for a resounding 283-run win over Old Merchant Taylor’s in the first round of the Cricketer Cup on an overcast Jubilee. Scriven’s 176, which came off 137 balls and took three minutes over three hours (17x4, 5x6), was the second-highest score in the club’s history and certainly one of the most brutal.

Matt Crump won the toss and batted on a pitch dampened by heavy rain the day before and on which, with a slow outfield, scoring was unlikely to be quick.  The defeat the previous week had served as a wake-up call, but Seren Waters and Jack Scriven dispelled all nerves in an opening stand of 175. OMT’s did not help themselves with a spate of no-balls, which now mean a free hit as well. Waters was caught of the first of these, although it was a swipe he would never had played in normal circumstances. Corbett, OMT’s opening bowler, was brisk but his ten no-balls allowed too much freedom to the batsmen, and the support for him was thin on the ground.

Waters batted, as ever, with calm assurance, exploiting gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving. Jack Scriven hit the ball with power and brutality and none of the bowlers came close to mastering him. By the time Waters was bowled for 66 (90 balls 5x4)) the game was almost beyond OMTs and we had barely used half our allotted overs.

Brad Scriven, on the back of a first-class fifty, joined his brother and another good stand ensued, but it came to an unfortunate end when Brad aggravated a shoulder injury he had sustained earlier in the season. He retired hurt and headed to hospital. Sadly, his season appears to be over.

Jack Scriven was by now mauling the bowling, and chancing his arm. He thumped his fifth and final six over long-on, the ball taking the tumbling fielder with it, and almost immediately perished trying a repeat of the shot. Alan Cope chipped in with 36 off 34 balls and the final score of 332 for 4 was, never seriously going to be threatened.

The atmosphere for much of the innings was slightly surreal with regular trumpet fanfares emerging from a marquee opposite the pavilion where Guy Waller was giving a farewell lunch. Delicate negotiations ensured the blasts came between overs.

Will Rollings had struggled for rhythm all season but found his form for Cranleigh the day before and continued this by removing the OMT top three in a hostile opening spell. With Matt Crump getting movement from the other end – at times way too much – OMTs slumped to 21 for 5. Rollings finished with 3 for 20, Crump 2 for 15.

Elliott Hannah (1-14) and Luke Chitty (1-16) both looked unfazed on the Cup debuts and both picked up a wicket, and, fittingly, Jack Scriven and Waters polished off the tail to complete a comprehensive win.

Our total of 332 was the second highest in a club game, and the margin of victory was the most in a club game. It was also our biggest score in a cup match.

The next round is at Cranleigh on June 29 against the winners of Old Amplefordians and Haileybury Hermits.

Well beaten but Bailey's champagne moment lives on

Headley 202 for 7 (Midmer 87, Henderson 4-40) beat Old Cranleighans 117 (Houston I 27, Houston A 24) by 85 runs

Steve Bailey takes the plaudits after his catch-of-the-season

Headley is our second-oldest club fixture and one which annually gives a chance for those less frequent players to try to find where they dumped their kit the previous June. Some years we win, some we lose as the strengths of the two sides is always variable. This time round we were well beaten but the sun shone throughout and there are always worse places to be than Headley in the summer.

 The pitch was not one of the best, the pace slow and the bounce variable, usually low. We made early breakthroughs and all seemed to be going well but we then came up against an Aussie, Midmer, who made a decent fifty, and a local, Hughes, who was more basic in his approach but hit a good 87. At 184 for 2 and with the bowling regularly disappearing over the road things looked grim. Ian Houston was the pick of the bowlers, looking enough like Jonny Gates to convince latecomers he was the man himself until they realised he was dropping more than one and over on a length.

Ian Houston shone with bat and ball

Ed Henderson, our skipper, is now in his thirties, an age when all bowler/captains realise that when the going gets tough you take yourself out of the attack, muttering how important it is that everyone has a game, until bringing yourself back when the batsmen are getting tired or careless. So back he came, took four wickets in five balls and even chief bunny-hunter Michael Chetwode could not have been prouder. A declaration immediately followed with Headley on 202 for 7. In other years this has been a 260-280 ground but this was a sporting total to chase even on that pitch

One incident is worth singling out. Midmer, the aforementioned Aussie, decided to clip Henderson off his toes and middle the ball sweetly, if uppishly. It was no more than seven feet off the ground by the time it reached Steve Bailey at mid-on, but for Bailey, who has not left the ground voluntarily in several years, seven feet is as good as 70. But he jumped (“you got at least six inches off the turf” Peter Hobbs gushed) and at full strength took a remarkable on-handed catch with ball seemingly past him. It was worth the day out alone.

When we batted we failed to master the conditions or the bowling. While Headley peppered the woods and the road, we failed to hit a six at all. Andy and Ian Houston batted well, Graeme Brown looked good before charging down the track and yorking himself. The rest offered little, and although we came within five overs of a draw, it was not an escape we would have deserved.

Our last man Ed Price is bowled and Headley celebrate

A stark Cricketer Cup wake-up call

Old Carthusians 291 for 6 (50 overs) beat Old Cranleighans 150 (Scriven J 84) by 141 runs

Matt Crump makes an early breakthrough.
It was about as good as it got

Michael Chetwode reports: "We pulled their trousers down and raped them” was the verdict of the Charterhouse captain after this dispiriting defeat. The saving grace is that this was a warm up game for the Cricketer Cup and not the real thing and we have the chance of putting it right next week.

 However, if we’re going to do that, we will need bowlers who can bowl a line and length with discipline – too many half volleys, half trackers, balls either side of the wicket, wides and no balls (21 in total). The fact that there is now a free hit for a no ball didn’t seem to deter us (one no ball followed another on one occasion causing the scorers to ask whether that meant there should be two free hits).

 The pitch was slow after the heavy rain the day before and nibbled around for most of the day. The fact the visitors managed 291, which was at least 50 above par tells all you need to know. Jack Scriven and Mike Chetwode bowled 20 overs for 75 runs between them, my simple maths tells me the other 30 went for about 220 or over seven runs an over; again, simply not good enough on that pitch. The ground fielding was solid although a couple of half chances went begging along with a simple one which also resulted in three overthrows.

Charterhouse batted sensibly and two of their number scored good hundreds. When it came to our innings, we plumbed the depths of 25 for 5; Jack Scriven watched from one end as Charterhouse bowled with great discipline and did just enough with the ball to entice edges and misses. Jack ended up ninth out for an excellent 84 which included some huge sixes as well as deft touches and a lot of patience. He just needed someone to stay with him. The innings closed on 150 with about 15 overs unused; we were probably flattered by that total. A bad defeat but not the end of the world.

 We are at home next week against Old Merchant Taylors and this is the mother of all wake up calls. We have a very strong side with a lot of talent and there’s no reason why we can’t up the intensity and discipline and go on another run in the cup. Looking at the draw, we would meet Charterhouse again in the semi-final if we both get there. If we play like we did yesterday and under estimate the opposition into the bargain, we’ve got no chance; OMTs will be no push-over.

Take the lessons from yesterday’s defeat and go out and win; I look forward to good news from my sun bed in Greece!

Finally, thanks to Will Howard for filling in for Charterhouse (with him they still only had ten) and for gifting his wicket to a certain old bloke and I trust Heather will have worked out how her new walkie talkie works by next week; she and the umpire managed to direct flights in to Gatwick and order a taxi but had great difficulty talking to each other…