Welch helps School to end on a high

Cranleigh School 209 for 7 (Austin 53, Jackson 40, Richards 3-27) beat OCCC 208 (Corbishley 62, Scriven 46, Thomas 5-63, Trower 3-29) by three wickets
Scorecard
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James Corbishley hits out

The School 1st XI finished their term – and in some cases their Cranleigh careers - with a three-wicket win over a young OC side, a result made to look closer than it was by a late clatter of wickets when the game was as good as done.

Jack Scriven won the toss on a hot day and batted, a decision which looked sound given the weather and also that the School had endured two long sessions in the field the previous afternoon in the drawn game against Charterhouse. Peter Westcott wasted no time, thrashing 26 of the first 31 runs, and then James Trower (22) and Scriven (46) took us to 71 for 1 before the wheels came off as the offspin of George Thomas (5 for 63) gnawed through the middle order, aided by some interesting shot selection.

By lunch we were 122 for 6, which should have been seven had Morgan Fletcher not stood his ground to a slip catch, explaining he was “not walking when the bowler was in the 4th form when I was in the Upper VIth”. It made little difference, as Fletcher fell straight after lunch and at 144 for 9 an early finish seemed likely.

Harvey Jackson 

But James Corbishley found an unlikely ally in Luke Chitty, who alternated lunging defensive pokes with mighty swipes out the ground. The field grew ragged and both batsmen scored with increasing ease. The stand was ended by Stuart Welch who, not able to get into the heads of his players, chose to target Scriven with constant suggestions he had batted on too long. Worn down by the constant chirping in his ear, Scriven duly signalled for reckless slogging and that was that. Welch allowed himself a wry smile.

The School batting looked largely untroubled, and Freddie Austin, making his debut and one of three Lower Vth players in the side, made a promising fifty before getting out to a shot Welsh was still muttering about days later. Harvey Jackson, the engaging captain, made the match safe with a brisk 28-ball 40 but from 176 for 3 wickets tumbled – three to Jack Richards – and although the School never seemed likely to throw the game away, the shrewdness of their coach was key.

This is a happy and young School XI and one which will be one of the strongest Cranleigh has ever put out in the next two or three years. Exciting times for Cranleigh and Old Cranleighan cricket.

Freddie Austin on his way to 53 on debut