Somethings old, somethings new

The averages for 2010 showed significant contributions from both young and old, but the story of the season was provided by the veteran Simon Copleston, who returned from exile in Dubai to record his sixth OC hundred, equally the record of Nigel Paul; despite barely lifting a bat in anger for several seasons, he also came within six runs of a second century. His 267 runs at 89.00 topped the averages and took him past 4000 runs, only the second batsman to achieve the landmark, again after Paul. He also leapfrogged his brother, Eds, whose own departure for New York curtailed his own record-chasing activities.

There were two other hundreds, one in his first innings for the club, one in his last. Duncan Allen, at the time in the Upper Sixth, made a much-lauded 109 not out against Old Wykehamists on his debut, and went on to play for Kenya Under-19s before the year was out. The other came at Headley where Nathan Ross scored 112 shortly before heading back to Australia after a nine-year stay in which he became the first and only non-OC to play regularly for us. It was a popular and deserved way to sign off.

The Crump brothers again weighed in with valuable runs, Sam Langmead showed rowing the Atlantic had left no scars with a brace of 70s, while Dave Wilson proved a far better prospect than his father (Mike) with a pair of 60s.

Of the 116 wickets taken during the season, only three bowlers managed ten or more, two youngsters - Matt Crump with 11 at 15.73 and Andrew Goudie, in his debut season, with 13 at 22.38 - and another older than those two combined - Michael Chetwode with 10 at 24.30. Matt Crump was also one of only two bowlers to take a five-for, the other a man two years older than Chetwode, Graham Webb, whose 5 for 25 came in the Cricketer Cup defeat against Old Malvernians, only the third time anyone had taken five in a cup tie, the other two occasions almost inevitably featuring Chetwode.

Paddy Harman looked a useful allrounder with runs and wickets.

Click here for averages

Click here for 2010 match photos

Season ends with heavy defeat

West End Esher 128 for 3 beat Old Cranleighans 126 (Hill 40) by seven wickets

What has been in many respects a frustrating season ended with a heavy defeat at West End. The on-field drubbing was largely offset by a lovely setting and an excellent post-match BBQ.

With a weakened side containing several faces who no longer play regularly, we never got to grips with some decent but not devastating bowling on a far from tricky pitch. Several batsmen perished to horrible shots, and at 75 for 8 it appeared likely the game could be over before the charcoal was even lit. But Damien Hill, horrendously hungover from his birthday celebrations the day before, swung to good effect against the secondary bowlers before missing a full toss, adding 35 for the ninth wicket with Martin Williamson and scrambling us into three figures.

The ever-dependable Mike Chetwode struck early, actually removing a stump from the ground for the first time in years, but we did not have nearly enough depth to the bowling or runs on the board to threaten an upset. Nigel Radbourne rolled back the years with his offspin to claim a late wicket, and a daft run out engineered by Gareth Starling and aided by Tristan Rosenfeldt removing the bails in advance of receiving the ball gave the scoreline a smidgeon of respectability.

Under par on a soggy Jubilee

Radley Rangers 141 for 4 (27.1overs: Goudie 2-58; Harman 1-15) beat Old Cranleighans 140 for 5 (35 overs: Crump T 42*, Langmead W 28)

Despite heavy overnight rain we were able to get a game of sorts on a soggy Jubilee, albeit one of the limited-overs variety increasingly the norm but less than popular with some of the old guard.


Damien Hill won the toss and batted but, by his own admission, “I put too many youngsters too high up the order and the innings stagnated”. We limited to 60 for 2 after 20 of the 35 overs, failing to put pressure on the fielders with some very ordinary running. Will Langmead, who broke the all-time record for the most runs in a school season in 2010, made 28 but it was only when Tom Crump (42*) came in that things got moving, and David Bugge contributed a breezy 15 at the close, rolling back the clock with a lusty lofted cover-drive in the penultimate over.

Paddy Harman opened the bowling, getting through all his seven overs in one burst, maintaining a good line with a couple of maidens and accounting for Radley’s opener in his final over – caught behind by Langmead. Our other opening bowler, Will Jordan, got dispatched, and after seven overs Radley were 60 for 0 and seemingly set for a comprehensive win.

Goudie did a good job of slowing the rate down, as did Hill whose seven overs only cost 11 runs, but the asking rate by then was so low as to be academic. Jumbo Jupp took a wicket with a long hop and the game ended when Bugge’s first ball was thumped to the boundary.

“We were well beaten,” Hill admitted. “But it was a decent fightback after a stodgy batting display and rocketering (sic) start to Radley’s innings.”

Cryptics offer little fight

Old Cranleighans 277-7 (Howard 79, Starling 50) beat Cryptics 139 (Henderson 3-14) by 138 runs


This was an OC side made up predominantly of those legends from the glorious ’99 season. Out of retirement came Gareth Starling (50) who compiled a slow but necessary half century, Will Howard (79) who scored some quick runs, including belting the hapless opening bowler into the pavilion for three sixes, and Andy Houston (3 for 17).

The Cryptics, with nine men, were always up against it despite having two OCs field for them on rotation. After the declaration Ed Henderson (3 for 14) dismissed the top three with further wickets coming from Houston, Goudie (2 for 21) and Rich Hume (2 for 30).

It was a thoroughly professional and enjoyable performance from the OC’s.

A mixed bag

Ed Henderson looks back on the 2010 OC cricket week

Old Cranleighans 217-6 (Ashton 94*) beat Eton Ramblers 213-7 by three wickets
An earlier-than-usual 10.30am start at the behest of the Etonians because they wanted to be home in time for the World Cup final was rather undermined when only two of the opposition were present at the scheduled beginning, but the game was underway before 11am. A mature 94* from Rich Ashton saw us knock off the Ramblers 214 in the last of the 40 overs. We had put in one of the tidiest OC fielding performances for some time with tight bowling from Ed Henderson, Paddy Harman, Mike Chetwode and Nigel Radbourne interspersed with regular wickets. We kept up with the run rate but no one bedded in to support Ashton despite contributions from Johnny Gates and Simon Copleston and a steady supply of wides.

Old Cranleighans beat Old Millfieldians by three wickets
A talented OC team of both youth and experience played in the first match between the two sides, with this fixture surprisingly being Old Millfieldian’s first venture into the realm of old boy’s cricket. Led by Jonny Gates, we were put into bat first on a flat Jubilee pitch and got off to a poor start, losing early wickets to a decent up front OMs seam attack. Rich Ashton battled for a period taking the home side to 139 for 8. Gatesy provided a gutsy lower order recovery with the help of much under rated Mike Roper but eventually ran out of batting partners just short of a much deserved fifty. With a more defendable total set, we were able to attack from the off in the field, with ‘veteran’ Henry Watkinson taking the wicket of a dangerous looking West Countryman with late swing and deceptive pace. It appeared that Millfield were also keen to get off to the Merry’s BBQ as they failed to provide any sort of spirited fight against tight bowling from Chetwode, Matt Crump and Graeme Brown. We finished the victors with runs and overs to spare, surely putting pain to the match-fixing allegations faced by Chris Preece early in the week!


Old Cranleighans 136 (Ashton 44, Crump T 36) lost to Old Georgians 140 (Crump M 5-34, Waters D 4-43 by four runs
On paper, a thrilling low-scoring match. In reality, a disappointing display by the club as we turned up with eight men despite some lengthy ringing round after a string of high-profile drop-outs the previous day. Several of the eight that did make it were noticeably the worse for attending the Merry BBQ and subsequent night in Guildford. That we kept OGs to such a low score was thanks almost entirely to a hungover Matt Crump (5-34) and a marathon 21-over spell from David Waters (4 for 43). With Crump comatose in the changing room, his team-mates offered little fight as we lost five quick wickets, but Ashton and Tom crump clawed us to within sight of an unlikely win.

Old Cranleighans 298 for 6 beat Grasshoppers 265 by 33 runs
Report to follow

Old Cranleighans v Charterhouse Friars
A disappointing day which was called off purely because the covers had not been put on leaving the pitch exposed to heavy overnight rain.

Old Cranleighans v Old Tonbridgians
Report to follow

Old Cranleighansv Old Douai
For the second year running our opponents failed to raise a side.

Old Cranleighans 295 for 6 (Copleston S 134, Wilson 61, Hill 54) drew with Buccaneers 275 for 8
Another high-scoring game is testament to the wicket and fast outfield on Jubilee. Simon Copleston (134*) and Dave Wilson (61) got us off to a fast start with Wilson hitting powerfully against some average bowling. Copleston started slowly and had only reached 54 by lunch but he knew that his time to cash in was to come and, supported by Damien Hill (54) he pushed on after lunch allowing captain Henderson to declare at 3.30. Copleston, who plays rarely now he is based in Dubai, completed a remarkable week by completing his sixth OC hundred, tying him with Nigel Paul who also made that number for the club. The Buccaneers were in the game to the extent Henderson wanted them to be in it, but dropped catches meant bowling them out was hard. Tom Basset broke the opening stand on the stroke of tea for his first OC wicket. After tea, recent leaver, Andrew Goudie bowled a very long and impressive spell of slow left arm bowling they earned him four deserved wickets. Chetwode produced a fine spell at the other end as the match entered the last 20 overs and wickets began to fall more regularly. However, the dropped catches meant that we were two wickets light of what would have been a fine win.

School fall to Crump and Cope

Old Cranleighans 281 for 6 (43.5 overs: Crump T 91*, Cope 90, Crump M 41) beat Cranleigh School 280 for 9 (45 overs: Allen 89, Davies 34, Austin 30, Cowdrey 3-33) by four wickets
Click here for match photos

We gained revenge for the OC Day Twenty20 the previous Sunday with a four-wicket win over the School on the hottest day of the year. It was again a close-fought 45-over encounter which went to the penultimate over, and in the end six hard days of cricket in increasing heat took its toll on the boys who wilted in the closing overs.

We again fielded a young side, albeit not quite as youthful as the recent leavers team on Sunday. The temperature was in the 90s, Jubilee as brown and arid as it has been for a number of years, and the pitch pluperfect as compared to its using perfection.


In the end the difference was a fourth-wicket stand of 171 between Tom Crump and Alan Cope which brought us back into a match which was drifting when they came together and took us to the brink of victory. Cope was at his clinical best in scoring 90, grinding down the fielding side with well-placed and well-run singles; Crump, who made a fifty on Sunday, added 91 not out to his haul and really looked a class act.

The stand was so well paced that throughout the run rate always hovered around 7.5 an over. It was also a club record for the fifth wicket,surpassing the 160 between Peter Black (114) and Jack Francis (83*) in the same fixture on the same ground 71 years earlier.

The fielding of the School was outstanding but a few errors near the end proved expensive. Even though Cope perished to a rare misjudged shot and Chris Preece followed in the following over, James Harrison put matters beyond doubt with a nicked a leg-side four and a cover drive as the shadows rolled across the outfield.


The School, who came into the game on the back of good wins over MCC and Charterhouse, found little to trouble them in the OC attack other than Matt Crump. The top six batsmen all made starts but only the ever-dependable Duncan Allen went on to make a big score, his innings ended by a silly run-out when he was in sight of a hundred.

Will Langmead only made 26 but it was enough to ensure he finished the season with more runs for the 1st XI in a year than anyone had before. In all, he made 947 runs at 67.64 with two hundreds, a remarkable return given he started the summer without a 1st XI fifty to his name.

In reply, we lost Ashton to a superb leaping catch by the keeper off the fifth ball and then Matt Crump has his box shattered, to widespread concern/amusement. James Halton (24) and Crump then pushed along at four an over, but as the run-rate began to climb both fell, Halton to a leg-before his snail-like exit showed his displeasure at the decision, Crump to a catch at deep midwicket. At 88 for 3, we seemed there for the taking, but then came Cope and the other Crump.

Old Tonbridgians forfeit Cricketer Cup win

Old Tonbridgians, defending Cricketer Cup champions and the side who knocked us out of the 2009 tournament, were eliminated from the 2010 competition after it was discovered they had played an ineligible player in their second round win over Old Brightonians.

"We beat the Old Brightonians by seven wickets to earn a home tie against the Charterhouse Friars, but discovered subsequently that we broke the rules of the Cricketer Cup by playing one of this year's leavers, who was not eligible to play in either the first or second rounds of the competition. As soon as we realised our error we immediately offered to forfeit the game. As a result we will take no further part in this year's competition."

The final is between Old Malvernians, who we lost to in the first round, and Oundle Rovers at Shenley on August 15.

Preece remains sedate as School win Twenty20 tie

Cranleigh School 158 for 5 (18.4 overs: Langmead 69*, Cross 64) beat Old Cranleighans 157 for 5 (20 overs: Crump T 53, Cope 46)

After the absence of a decade or more and years of constant pestering and sucking up by Rick Johnson, the headmaster finally allowed Speech Day and OC Day to merge once more. The results proved the decision was the right one with sport, art and music exhibitions showing Cranleigh’s true colours although the only dampner the suspected match-fixing rumours involving Chris Preece. More on that later...

After winning the toss, Matt Crump did the customary thing on an occasion such as this and batted first. The OCCC team had a youthful look to it with the oldest player being 23 mixed in with a few school- leavers.

Tom Crump and Will Jordan opened up the innings and Crump especially made it an explosive start. After three overs we were 41 for 0, Crump on 38 and Jordan 1. School coach Stu Welch’s instructions to his bowlers to bowl short at Crump was one out of the Johnson school of captaincy as a succession of deliveries disappeared over square leg. Crump managed 58 before being stumped but the decisive moment of the game came a few overs before when Jordan was out, again stumped and this saw the arrival to the crease of Preece.

Preece, who had controversially turned his back on his local club to ply his trade for Normandy, walked to the crease with much optimism but this soon changed as he decided to block some maidens. There was soon some heckling from the stands (mainly from ex-OC captain and Preece’s new boss Henry Watkinson) but he ignored the comments and continued to block. The innings struggled for momentum despite Alan Cope playing a cameo of 46 with his customary strutting between the wickets and our 157 for 5 - Preece 26 not out off 65 balls – was well below what had appeared on the cards. This is where rumours around the ground begun about whether Preece had received a brown envelope from the school coach before the game although nothing has been proven thus far...

We were at least 20 runs short of par but with a pace attack of Pritchard, Matt Crump and Cope there was always hope. We removed Austin to the 7th ball of the innings being bowled by a rare straight one from Crump. Then the school showed their class with new-found “gun” Will Langmead, brother of OC stalwart Sam, playing a match-winning innings of 69 not out and he was ably supported by Cross who also reached his half century before being dismissed by Cope. The school won by six wickets with eight balls to spare, a margin which would have been greater but for some late successes for the bowlers.

“This should take nothing away from the school who batted and fielding brilliantly to claim a third win in a row against us,” Matt Crump said afterwards. “But without rather a lot of interference from New York about team selection and general backseat driving the result could have been different.

“Friday sees the return of the traditional longer form of the game between the two sides with the younger OCs defying calls from the wanabee OCCC dictator in New York to take it upon themselves to win this fixture to balance the power between the two sides.”

Initial reports suggest Friday could see the return of Seren Waters (allegedly banned by Welsh as he is “too good”, surely a first) James Halton and Paddy Harman. Matt Crump refused to comment on speculation but was eager to confirm Preece was unlikely to feature in the match.

Capello ruins a day out in East Horsley

East Horsley 238 for 6 beat Old Cranleighans 237 for 7 (Howard 74, Shapland 50, Hume 44, Chetwode 38) by one run

The annual match against East Horsley was all rather peculiar. What should have been a sleepy afternoon’s cricket in glorious late-June sunshine turned out to be a disjointed limited-over slog. Like much this weekend, it was all Fabio Capello’s fault.

Had his overpaid fools been even half good then England would have been knocked out of the World Cup 24 hours earlier and nobody would have cared less about the Germans playing the USA. As it was, East Horsley only managed to raise an XI with assurances the cricket would halt for the football. This, and the consequential need to play a 30-over match, we found out on arrival. Mike Chetwode and Steve Isaac had their first minor fit of the day, not being particularly into either football or limited-overs cricket.

Chetwode takes up the story. “After getting over the shock, Johnny Gates won the toss (I've no idea who won the toss but let's blame him) and elected to field first on the hottest day of the year. Chetwode and Isaac had another fit. Eight overs later, our opening attack with a combined age of 92 retired having kept the young guns of East Horsley down to something approaching nine an over. Ed Henderson and Ru Hume then took up the attack and kept the rate reasonably in check at the same time as picking up regular wickets (two each, I believe). Gates finally bought himself on and managed to drop his usual dolly. This time it was off his own bowling. A final total of 238 off thirty overs left us with quite a lot to do.”

Despite the eagerness to watch the World Cup, Chetwode had won a minor victory. “I told Gates (and anyone else within earshot) that once we'd started, we weren't going to stop until we'd bowled the thirty overs so, 1:30 to about 3:30 then back out at about 4:20 (after a couple of Jerries had sunk the good ship I suggested there wasn't much point in watching anymore and I wanted to get back to watch Top Gear).”

In 1995 we had made a similar arrangement to allow us to watch the Rugby World Cup semi-final between England and Jonah Lomu. Another one-sided affair, and another mutually agreed earlier return to cricket as interest in events in South Africa dissipated.


“Five goals later (should have been six, apparently) and we headed back out with about 20 minutes of the poofball to go. Nathan Ross, in his farewell appearance before returning to Australia, didn't last long but Hume and Mark Shapland pushed the scoring along. Hume was caught behind trying to smote another boundary but Shapland and Will Howard upped the scoring rate.

“Howard went to a very good fifty and fours and sixes were interspersed with conversation about Shappers' sex life. The umpire wanted to know more. Enough said here, though. Shapland got to a maiden OC fifty playing very straight and then ran out of steam. Once Howard, Shapland and Rob Merry (another one off to Australia within the week) went in quick succession, we needed fifty odd off four overs. Merry T was starting to open his shoulders and, along with Chetwode got the target down to ten off the last over. A six off the second ball got the target down to four off four but Chetwode was bowled trying to hit the winning boundary. Three were needed for a win off the last ball, and Tom Merry was run out going for the second which gave East Horsley a win by one run.

“A very good day only spoilt by some of the young oppo believing that England had a hope of beating Germany and wanting to watch. That'll teach them!”

World Cup forces changes to Eton match

The match against Eton Ramblers on Sunday, July 11 will start an hour early at 10.30am to allow those interested in Spain and Brazil to watch the World Cup final which starts at 7.30pm. In another sign of falling standards the match will be a 45-over contest.

Tristan Rosenfeldt, the fixtures secretary, said: “Eton requested this as they have had problems raising a side when the fixture coincided with the Wimbledon fixture [the idiot means Wimbledon tennis], and it was agreed with Eds that this may be a problem for us when putting together a side, particularly if (and fingers crossed) England get to the final.”

Old Etonians have strong football links, having been in eight FA Cup finals, winning the competition twice. In 1882 they were the last truly amateur side to win the Cup, and in 1879 three of the England side which beat Wales were OEs.

The move to tinker with the timings is not without precedent. In 1995 the afternoon game at Headley started a hour early and the mid-innings break was agreed so it would allow both teams to watch the Rugby World Cup semi-final between England and New Zealand during the break. However, England were so outclassed that at half-time both teams agreed to head back out and resume the cricket rather than sit through the second half.

Another Cricketer Cup defeat by Malvernians

Old Malvernians 160 (Webb 5-25) beat Old Cranleighans 66 for 6 (T Crump 17*) by 13 runs (revised target)

Our Cricketer Cup campaign ended at the first hurdle away from home, going down to Malvern, the side who beat us the 2008 final, in a rain-affected tie. For the second year running, we had the bad luck to be drawn against one of the favourites in the early stages.

After a three-hour hike across the Midlands, Abeed Janmohamed, appointed captain after Eds Copleston was deported to the USA, lost the toss and for the first hour and a half we struggled, with Mark Hardinges’ county experience to the fore as his 60 steered Malvern to 102 for 3.

The innings was then turned on its head by 49-year-old Graham Webb who took 5 for 25 in his 10 overs, showing what a class act he remains. With Seren Waters (2 for 30) chipping in with his legspin, the value of quality spin was again underlined. Malvern struggled to 160, a very gettable score.

As the day went on the conditions grew more overcast, confirming what a good toss it was to win. To their credit, Malvern’s bowlers exploited increasing swing and Hardinges found a nagging line just back of a length.

We were almost immediately in trouble as we lost Matt Crump and Seren Waters, bowled off his thigh pad, to slide to 3 for 2. We were always struggling – Will Howard, who had kept excellently and pulled off three stumpings, was stupidly run-out for 12, Alan Cope made 9 and then Janmohamed again failed on the big occasion with 0.

By this time it was clear the forecast rain was going to hit, and despite the tumbling wickets we remained in the hunt with Tom Crump (17*) steadying the innings. But at 5pm with us on 66 for 6 in the 27th over the umpires took the players off, and by 6.15pm it was clear we weren’t going to get back on by the 6.30 cut-off.

Cricketer Cup side announced

After much deliberation we have settled on the following XI to represent the Old Cranleighans in Round One of the Cricketer Cup v Old Malvernians on Sunday June 13 away at Malvern

Venue: Malvern College
Start Time: 1130
Meet: 1030 latest

Abeed Janmohamed – Captain
Will Howard – Wicketkeeper
Seren Waters
Matthew Crump
James Halton
Alan Cope
Tom Crump
Max Barson
Elliott Hannah
Henry Watkinson
Graham Webb

Scorer – Heather Dean

According to the Malvern College website it takes three hours from Cranleigh. Please leave enough time to get there

Directions:
http://www.malcol.net/visiting/

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Address for Sat Nav: Malvern College College Road Malvern Worcestershire WR14 3DF

Allen shows his future potential

Old Cranleighans 229 for 7 (Allen 103, Roper M 53, Close-Brooks 4-45) beat Old Wykehamists 228 for 8 dec (Walters A 55, Roper P 3-71, Chetwode 2-37)
The antidote to the previous week's torpor with a game which ebbed and flowed and which we eventually won by two wickets with 16 balls to spare.

The star of the day was Duncan Allen, in his final year at Cranleigh. Batting at No. 6, he came with us tottering on 46 for 4 chasing 229 and smacked 109 not out to steer us to victory, moving from fifty to a hundred in 36 deliveries. His hundred came off 86 balls in 81 minutes, the eighth-fastest century in the club's history. He put on exactly 100 with Mike Roper, who made 53 opening the innings, and our tail was strong enough to provide support even when Roper departed.

Allen had earlier struck with the fourth ball of the day, the visitors' captain Ed Craig doubly disappointed to have fallen to a Johnny Gates catch, but a nine-man Wykehamists side batted solidly right through. Chetwode and Phil Roper took on the lion's share of the bowling, tying down the batsmen throughout, and Allen, Matt Crump and Sam Worthy all turned in tidy spells.

As an intended Cricketer Cup warm-up it served little value, with only two of the likely starters on display. Allen, unfortunately, is barred by the competition rules until the third round, and Rob Jones had little time to make his mark as he fell for a three-ball duck.

Season opens in stalemate

Old Cranleighans 302 for 7 dec (Rosenfeldt 71, Hume 37, Crump 32, Copleston 32, Ross 30) drew with Kenya Kongonis 205 for 8

This was the inaugural home tie against Kenya Kongonis – the away fixture took place in Nairobi in 2001 when the OCCC toured Kenya. The “Long Rains” had begun early when the two sides met in Nairobi (only two boundaries were hit all day with the wet outfield) and while England offered similar weather, Jubilee looked an absolute picture.

Rick Johnson was meant to match manage this fixture but as usual decided he would prefer to watch (and eat) all day, and so drafted Eds Copleston in to skipper. We won the toss and elected to bat first. Tristan Rosenfeldt and Jonny Gates, both in “the form of their lives” took some time to get the pace of the track, but then unleashed some excellent drives before Gates fell for a promising 35. Tristan eventually got caught for 71, having been dropped three times by Cranleigh Prep School headmaster Mike Wilson – rumours of bribery were quickly denied.

Roo Hume, who was returning from a sabbatical of mind-boggling lunacy (rowing the Atlantic and a plethora of other idiotic challenges) along with Matt Crump, Copleston and Nathan Ross contributed solid 30s in the middle order. Rick Johnson refused to let Eds declare when we had reached 260 off 44overs and instead batted on to 302 for 7 declared off 48overs.


The Kongonis started brightly with Duncan Allen and Abeed Janmohammed taking them to 55 without loss at tea. Roo Hume and Henry Watkinson, who skippered the game in 2001, opened the bowling. The highlight before tea was Abeed hooking a bouncer from Henry for 6. Henry isn’t as quick as he used to be when he was as old as his girlfriend is now (19).

Crump replaced Watkinson after tea and Peter Rollings came up the hill. Abeed ran Duncan Allen out straight after tea and was then adjudged LBW (given out box before wicket) and the asking rate began to rise sharply.

Davis(50) was the mainstay of the Kongonis innings but as soon as the openers went it appeared the win was out of reach. Wickets fell regularly with Henderson bowling Dave Wilson and Rollings trapping Prodger LBW. With the Kongonis needing 14 an over, Copleston brought himself on and had Rogan stumped trying to hit him into Guildford. David Waters then shut up shop and refused to go for the win – showing extreme patience in playing out flighted a maiden from Eds. Watkinson and Crump were brought back but couldn’t break the resistance as Kongonis hung on for a draw.

A fun day and with a better declaration the game could have been close, Johnson not having played much cricket since he was at school cannot be blamed for not understanding the game. Thank you to Hannah for scoring and Lydia’s first lunch for the OCCC was superb – lets hope we see them down on Jubilee for many years! So the season starts with a tame draw but a game played in excellent spirit and this is definitely one to make an annual fixture (Id be keen to play in Nairobi next year!). Eds Copleston

Janmohamed named Cricketer Cup captain

Abeed Janmohamed has been named as the club’s Cricketer Cup captain, replacing Eds Copleston who is heading for a two-year sabbatical in New York.

“Abeed and I have both captained counties at all our respective age groups, captained the school and then gone on to captain in Surrey championship leagues – which makes him the obvious choice,” Copleston said. “I put my full trust in Abeed and believe is the right man for the job. The first round away tie at Malvern is about as hard as games come and I hope Abeed and the boys can win that. It would be a terrific achievement.”

He has a hard act to follow. Since taking over as cup captain in 2002, Copleston has led the OCCC to four Brewers Cup finals, winning three of them, as well as victory in the 2007 Cricket World Trophy.

“It’s a true privilege to be given the honour of captaining the OCCC following in the footsteps of legends like Chetwode, Watkinson and Copleston<” gushed former Kenya international Janmohamed. “I am surprised given that i am yet to score an OC hundred or distinguish myself in OCCC colours.” He added his captaincy would be “less methodical and more spontaneous” adding he would be looking to get the best from the younger players.

OC trio in first-class action

A remarkable day for Cranleigh and Old Cranleighan cricket on April 10 with three players in action in first-class matches.

At The Oval, Stuart Meaker was in action for Surrey against Derbyshire, taking 2 for 58 as Surrey struggled at the start of the County Championship season.

At Canterbury, Alan Cope was captaining Loughborough MCCU against Kent, while at Durham, Seren Waters took his debut first-class wicket for Durham MCCU against Nottinghamshire.

Malvern away in 2010 Cricketer Cup

In a tough Cricketer Cup draw, we will travel to Old Malvernians, who beat us in the 2008 final, in the first round of the 2010 competition. The match will take place on June 13. If we win that tie we will again be away in the second round on July 4 to either Harrow Wanderers or Rugby Meteors.

Those who believe there should be some kind of seeding in the competition will point out that the draw means that two of this year’s semi-finalists, Eton Ramblers and Repton Pilgrims, are set to meet in the second round.

Click here for a PDF of the full draw