All-round performance sees off Harrow

Karthik Suresh enjoyed a successful Cup debut

The OCCC overcame poor weather and a resilient Harrow side to move into the second round of the Cricketer Cup with a four-wicket win on Jubilee. An away trip to either Clifton or St Edward’s Oxford on June 26 awaits.

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Harrow had been our first opponents when we joined the Cricketer Cup in 2007. On that occasion Michael Chetwode carved the winning runs through midwicket off the last delivery in late evening sun in front of a large crowd. The conditions nine years later could not have been more different.

Heavy overnight rain and morning drizzle meant the game was unable to start before 1.15pm with each side reduced to bowling 40 overs. That we played at all was testament to the hard work put in by the groundstaff. Matt Crump won a vital toss, and with the rules of the competition favouring the side batting second when weather intervenes, he chose to field. His opening bowlers, Will Rollings (0-8) and Karthik Suresh (2-22), making his Cricketer Cup debut while on a holiday from Singapore, made the most of seam-friendly conditions and maintained a naggingly accurate line, restricting Harrow to 23 off the first ten overs.

Thereafter, it was all spinners, and on an outfield slowed by the rain allied to some excellent groundfielding, the batsmen struggled to build any momentum. Bruno Broughton (0-28) kept a tidy line, while Rob Jones little-used dobblers proved highly effective as he took 2 for 36. Jack Scriven (2-40) was a tight as ever, although his figures were spoiled when the last two balls of the innings went for ten. Another debutante, George Thomas, showed no nerves and good control bowling the final overs to finish with 2 for 21.

Alan Cope on the attack

All in all it was a good performance, some hard catches were held but a couple of not-so-hard ones spilt. The feeling was that Harrow, who had the worse of the conditions, were probably 20 or so short.

Our innings began with a flurry of shots and wickets. Mike Burgess (8) started with two fours before being caught off the third ball, and Scriven (7) and Tom Crump (0) soon followed to leave us 19 for 3; Harrow, for the first time, sensed they were back in the game and a tense half hour followed. Alan Cope (35) and Matt Crump (26) added 56 for the fourth wicket at over five an over before Cope mistimed a shot, and when Crump fell lbw to leave us 98 for 5, again Harrow were back in the game. 

But Jones (37), as he has done so often for us, played an important knock, while Broughton (27*) quickly deflated the bowlers with some excellent counter-attacking strokes, smacking four fours off the first ten balls he faced as well as enjoying a little luck when dropped by a fielder at deep midwicket as he tumbled over the boundary rope.

By the time Jones was bowled we were almost home and Will Langmead (8*), showing the kind of confidence he had in his record-breaking season in 2012, saw us home with almost seven overs to spare.

Chetwode and his children guide us to a winning start

OCCC 230 for 5 (Gates 56*, T Crump 55, W Langmead 52, Jones 50) beat Esher 211 (39.4 overs, Chetwode 4-14) by 19 runs
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Our first line up of the season was a blend of experience and youth, and on paper a very strong batting line up. We won the toss and took the opportunity to post a score for Esher to chase down in their 40 overs. The unseasonably fine weather, in evidence again on the day albeit accompanied by a cold wind, had allowed a good track to be nurtured and we were able to build a strong start.


Rob Jones and Will Langmead eased their way to 94 at the 15 over mark. However we were 109 for 2 just four overs later, with both openers falling shortly after celebrating their half centuries - Jones leg-before for 50 and Langmead caught behind for 52.

Damien Hill missed his opportunity after being caught for 3, and we got bogged down over the next 15 overs as the scoring rate dropped from 6 an over to 4 an over. Jonny Gates and Tom Crump then began to find more fluidity as the rate climbed to over 8 an over during the last 10 overs. Credit should also be given to Gates for his incredible ability to farm the strike!

Crump, who eventually got to face, was then caught and bowled by the Esher captain (another OC) for 55 in the last over, which brought Rich Aston to the crease. He was promptly on his way back after being run out without facing. Gates eventually finished unbeaten on 56 and we posted 230 for Esher to chase.

Roo Hume opened up with a maiden, and Marcus Fletcher opened at the other end up the hill and into the wind. Although we got of to a reasonable start we never really created an opportunity in the opening overs and the good batting track meant that anything full or short was duly dispatched.

Langmead came on to bowl spin and caused some problems, beating players in the air. He was unlucky not to have a stumping to his name but then got his reward when OC Alex Szepietowski smashed the ball back at him and he parried it to the waiting Crump at mid-off. Experience then came to the fore, as the ever dependable Mike Chetwode tightened things up and then bowled the left hander for a duck.

At the halfway stage Esher were 85 for 3 as Chetwode strangled their middle order and that pressure brought wickets. Despite a number of missed opportunities, with Rob Merry having a shocker behind the stumps, we looked to be just in front. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and Esher remained behind the curve – needing 96 off the final 10 overs and then 83 off the final five.

Hill bowled with uncharacteristic control and captain Abeed Janmohamed’s first spell was also tight. However having bought a wicket Abeed brought Esher’s pro (Ahmed) to the crease – who then calmly dispatched some fairly friendly Janmohamed pies for two sixes and a four. This gave Esher something to cheer about and a glimmer of hope but a fantastic diving catch in the deep by Crump off Hume removed the Ahmed threat and Esher’s chances. The game was wrapped up by an easy run-out as we finished them with two balls to spare, 19 short of our total.

A good result and first outing this season for a number of players. Several batsman put their hand up for Cricketer Cup places, and it was pleasing to see the recent school leavers play their part. Four batsman got half centuries but the stand out performance once again was old lag Chetwode with figures of 4 for 14 off his eight overs.

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.

Cup defence ends at the first hurdle

Old Alluredians 139 (Chetwode 5-15) beat Old Cranleighans 132 by seven runs

After all the entertainment we have gained from cup competitions since we joined the Brewers Cup in 2001, this took us back to the beginning. The club has progressed significantly since we were knocked out in the 1st round by Old Hurstjohnians in 2001. We have raised the Brewers Cup three times in four years and the Cricket World Trophy last year. However the availability for this round was dire… University exams, holidays (yes, during the cricket season) and a general lack of interest in travelling down to Kings Taunton turned the usual selection dilemmas into a scramble for 11 players.

We did, however, turn up with a full compliment on a warm day down in Taunton. We won the toss and elected to field, given that the green pitch was still drying. Our opening attack was a blend of youth and experience with Henry Watkinson and Max Barson (on debut). Both bowled with good control to contain the OA’s openers. Watkinson struck early on as he bowled an excellent tight line and some sharp fielding contained the OAs to 40 for off 14 overs. Our first change, Jumbo Jupp, was expensive in a short spell before Rob Jones gave us more control, with Alex Craven bowling his usual miserly line and length from the other end. Mike Chetwode came on to replace Jones and immediately gave us back complete control of the game as he took 5 for 15 either side of lunch. Some excellent groundfielding helped us keep the pressure on at both ends and OAs had no answer to Chetwode. Jones replaced Craven to take the last three wickets as OAs left us 140 to win.

With a very achievable target the plan was simple - bat sensibly for as many overs as it took. After some excellent early drives from Jones, we quickly found ourselves in trouble at 35 for 3 with Jones, Barson and Johnny Gates all back in the pavilion. Eds Copleston and Will Howard steadied the ship before we lost Howard LBW trying to work a straight ball to the leg side(all too familiar) to leave us 60 for 4. Jock Vickers and Copleston took us to 85 for 4 before Copleston was controversially given out caught off his pad. At 85 for 5 we were reeling and shortly afterwards Vickers fell LBW to leave youngsters Damien Hill and Jupp with a difficult task - 95 for 6 at tea. The run rate was never an issue and we knew if just batted for another 10 overs the game was ours. Jupp batted with maturity and mental strength to get us to within 7 runs of victory as at the other end wickets continued to tumble - Hill ran himself out, Wakinson was bowled and Craven fell LBW. Shortly afterwards the umpires had the last word as Jupp was stumped off what debatably could have been a no-ball.

We didn’t deserve to win this game the way we batted, Taunton played with spirit and deserved their exciting win. The majority conclusion after the game was this is a thoroughly worthwhile tournament to be in and can provide some good cricket for all OCCC club members going forward. This also represents an opportunity to blood players and test them under pressure in cup cricket. We must move on and learn alot from this experience as attention now moves to the first round of the cricketer cup this weekend - a home tie against Lancing…

One change for Cricketer Cup second round

We make one change to the side that beat Harrow for the second round of the Cricketer Cup against Old Cholmelians on Sunday, June 24, Ed McGregor coming in for Johnny Gates.

Squad Michael Chetwode, Alan Cope, Eds Copleston, Alex Craven, Matt Crump, Will Howard (wk), Abeed Janmohamed, Rick Johnson, Rob Jones, Henry Watkinson (capt), Graham Webb.

The match takes place at Highgate School (click here for directions) and starts at 11.30am. Although, like us, they have their own old boys' sports club, Cricketer Cup rules state matches must be played at the school. The OCs are Highgate School old boys - the name, for the inquisitive, comes from School’s founder Sir Roger Cholmeley.

For the statistically minded, we have played the Old Cholmelians six times before, between 1921 and 1927, winning one, drawing one and losing the other six.

Cope steers us to dramatic last-ball win

Old Cranleighans 200 for 8 (50 overs: Cope 61, Howard 59, Morrison 3-34) beat Harrow Wanderers 197 (50 overs: Engelen 67*, Harmsworth 32, Norris 28, Watkinson 3-35, Chetwode 2-20, Craven 2-30, Webb 2-37)
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The OCs first foray in the Cricketer Cup ended with a thrilling last-ball, two-wicket win of Harrow Wanderers in a match which ebbed and flowed from the off. The closing overs in front of a large OC Day crowd on a sun-drenched Jubilee were about as dramatic as you can get.

Click here for the full match report ...

Watkinson leads us into Cricketer Cup

The following have been picked to play for the club in our first Cricketer Cup match, against Harrow Wanderers on Jubilee on Sunday, June 10. The game starts at 11.00am.
As it is also OC Day, so everyone is welcome. Bring a picnic!

Michael Chetwode, Alan Cope, Eds Copleston, Alex Craven, Matt Crump, Will Howard (wk), Abeed Janmohamed, Rick Johnson, Rob Jones, Henry Watkinson (capt), Graham Webb.

Graham Webb makes his first cup appearance since we lost to Reigate in the semi-final of the Cricket World Trophy back in July 1990. At 46, he is the oldest person to take part in a cup tie for the club, robbing Mike Chetwode, a youthful 44, of that honour. Rob Jones, Alex Craven, Matt Crump and Alan Cope were not born when they left Cranleigh. Cope and Crump are also younger than Chetwode’s daughter!