Averages 2015 - Batsmen dominate as bowlers toil

Given that the cricket week on Jubilee was played out on some of the most batsmen-friendly pitches we have ever used, it is unsurprising that the 2015 averages make better reading for the batsmen than the bowlers.

Brad Scriven, who like his brother missed the early part of the summer, including the Cricketer Cup matches, through injury, scored the most runs thanks to an excellent cricket week in which he scored over 300 runs in four innings, including two hundreds.  The week also saw two of the most remarkable knocks. Mike Burgess slammed 131 in XX minutes on the Wednesday while Will Rollings – 52 runs in 13 OC matches going into the game against Buccaneers – broke Nigel’s Paul’s OC 52-year-old  record for the highest score .  Eds Copleston, returned from his sojourn to the USA, broke Paul’s record for the most career runs while his fourth OC hundred same 15 years after his third. In all, we scored nine hundreds in the season - easily a record, as were the six in the week.

The bowlers suffered, especially the seamers, and 52-year-old Michael Chetwode was the joint leading wicket-taker with the marginally younger Jack Scriven.  Scriven also managed one of our two five-wicket hauls, the other being Seren Waters’ 7 for 32 in a losing cause in the Cricketer Cup at Eton.

We fielded more players than usual, but it was heartening that a lot were recent leavers.

The averages are, regrettably, incomplete as we are still waiting for a copy of the scorecard from Millfield who have told us “it will appear at some point before the start of next season”. When it does, the records will be amended accordingly.

Qualification: Five matches or five wickets

Batsmen dominate record-breaking cricket week

The cricket week was blessed by almost constant sunshine and we took great heart from the number of young players who took part, especially the batch of this year's leavers who all blended in straight away.  Catering was wonderful, thanks to the Louise/Daisy dream team, and the groundsman were helpful throughout.  But it was not a happy time for bowlers who suffered on pitches which became easier as the week progressed.  That the last three days on Jubilee was all six innings pass 300 and a run-rate of close to seven an over says it all.

The five days of the week kicked off with a game against Old Millfieldians which we lost by 77 runs. On a hard track we made early inroads but lacked the depth of bowling to capitalise, and from 119 for 5, OMs scored briskly to reach 176 for 5 by lunch. They continued in the same way in the afternoon, smashing the ball to all parts but at 214 for 8 with only ten men we seemed to have the match in control. But we allowed the last pair to add 63, Jenkins reaching a good hundred. Credit due to Tom Cooper, who on announcing he did not bowl much was rewarded with 16 overs in the heat. To his credit, he finished with 3 for 61. Our chase of 278 tottered as the top order failed before Brad Scriven (64), back after a broken finger, got us on track. All the middle order got starts but none went on to play the necessary supporting innings, and only a few late lusty blows when the game was already lost got us to 200. The Merry BBQ and MNG followed and the casualties were, as usual, bad. The club captain crashed and burned as only he can.

Historically the Old Georgians game has proved a hard one for us as it falls the day after the infamous Monday night antics. This year proved no different as we had three players there at the official start time, while another who shall remain nameless (Jock Vickers) called off shortly beforehand claiming he had to go to hospital after consuming silly amounts of vodka at even sillier prices. . Eds Copleston won the toss and elected to bat as the other seven arrived (again playing with 10 men which seems to be the norm in the Will Howard era). Cross looked aggressive early on , despite admitting he could not see the ball, but Charlie Gilbert fell early, shortly followed by Callum Kent and when Cross was caught behind we were in trouble at 51 for 3. Ollie Davies and Eds Copleston began to open up and the scoreboard was ticking along at a healthy rate into lunch. After the break they opened up, scoring 120 in nine overs as Copleston reached his hundred off 75 balls and fell an over later for 123, including 20 4s and 4 6s and ending a partnership of 198 for the fourth wicket. Davies continued the onslaught, assisted by Tom Cooper, the victim of some horrible MNG fines, but fell for 96 which prompted a declaration on 305 off 45 overs. Dan Chitty and Foster took the new ball and looked dangerous early on but OGs managed to see off the new ball and then began to attack … 305 looked a very small total and with five dropped catches we never had the chance to even test the OGs lower middle order. Spin pair Cooper and Copleston both proved expensive as OGs won by seven wickets at a canter. However 600 runs and excellent day out for the 10 men that made it, one of whom was the 69-year-old Dick Kennedy-Hawkes, summoned into action from the comfort of his deck chair. He thought Howard realised he was joking when he said he could play at OGs. Howard, never the sharpest tool, did not.

The Wednesday match was one of the most remarkable seen on Jubilee. The bare facts are that we beat the Grasshoppers by seven wickets with almost 18 overs to spare. But the devil is in the detail. Grasshoppers batted on a pitch which became flatter and easier as the week went on, and allied to a fast outfield, runs flowed. Against weak bowling, the batsmen scored almost at will and Grasshoppers called off the slaughter after 47 overs by which time they had made 336 for 3. The most sensible OC was Peter Hobbs who tactically pulled a muscle and retired from the attack with figures of 5.4-0-62-0. The target of 337 needed a record-breaking effort and it got just that. Brad Scriven (105) and Michael Burgess (131) opened the innings and put on 199 for the first wicket in 17 overs. Burgess was first out after 70 minutes. His fifty had come off 21 balls, his hundred off 44 in 54 minutes and he hit 19 fours and five sixes. Unsurprisingly, it was the fastest OC hundred by 17 minutes and it was not slogging, but calculated hitting. At the other end Scriven’s innings would have been breath-taking on any other day. His hundred took a pedestrian 90 minutes, and even when he fell, Cross picked up the mantle with 61 off 43 balls. Ed Tristam, fresh from the Upper Vth and persuaded to play after a hockey practice, finished the game off with 34 off 22 deliveries. It was the highest score we had ever chased down, beating the 301 we scored in the Cricketer Cup at Tonbridge the previous month.

On the Thursday we batted first against Free Foresters but failed to capitalise on the conditions and it took another Brad Scriven hundred – he made 102* batting at No.8 – to haul us to a defendable 310 for 9 declared. He added 57 for the tenth wicket with Horsey, whose share was 3. Our bowling was as lacklustre as our batting and our visitors rattled along at seven an over without looking troubled. Cross gave some respectability to the scorebook with late wickets but we were well beaten by four wickets with nine overs spare.

The nadir for bowlers came against Old Tonbridgians on Friday when records tumbled but the flattest of tracks rendered the game little more than an exercise in hitting boundaries. Tonbridge batted first and reached lunch on 203 for 1 from 37 overs. We dropped a couple of chances but that aside most of the morning was spent fetching balls from the furthest parts. The assault continued after lunch and only two late wickets provided any solace as OTs declared on 369 for 4. Credit is due to 52-year-old Michael Chetwode who bowled 17 overs on the trot in searing heat; he was replaced in the attack by 57-year-old David Bugge. So easy was batting that the only question seemed to be whether we would have the time to chase down 370 in a likely 54 overs. After a tough opening few overs, the batsmen cut loose. Sutha Thanabalasingam, borrowed from the Village, led the way with 104 and evenyone else chipped in as we reached the target with a little over five overs in hand. Despite the score, it was an unsatisfying victory. For the records, it was out highest score, the highest score against us, the highest score we have chased down, and the 739 runs in the day was the highest by almost 50.

Watkinson leads another Florida excursion

Henry Watkinson leads arguably the strongest OCCC squad to Florida on November 24 for the seventh time in the club’s history and the first since 2007 in an effort to lift a trophy that has just escaped the club’s grasp on more than one occasion in the past.

The Sarasota International Six-a-Side Thanksgiving tournament has attracted such names as Chiv Chanderpaul, Fayood Bacchus, Jonathan Trott, Mike “RJ” Gatting, Paul Maynard and Steve Watkin in the past and the cricket has been extremely competitive with strong OCCC sides falling at the semi final stages at three previous tournaments.

“We arrive this year with our tail between our legs since last time we took a side to the festival we failed to win a group game,” Watkinson admitted. “Admittedly we had a young side then but we had experience as well and it goes to show that we are playing people who play this format of cricket a lot more than we do and we need to learn quickly as good sides can come unstuck very quickly in Sarasota.”

Watkinson also brushed aside claims that his selections had choked in the later stages of this tournament in the past. “It wasn’t nerves that got the better of us it was the teams unwillingness to say no to large amounts of alcohol plied to it by the very friendly locals as well as the opposition on the Saturday night gala dinner before the semi finals on Saturday morning.”

Watkinson feels buoyed by the fact that Rick Johnson has assumed the John McDermott managerial role of building bridges at the festival. “Mac’s are very broad shoulders but if anyone can fill his shoes then Rick can. I was very sorry Mac has had to stay at home due to his wife Sylvia’s advice. In the past we have got into plenty of trouble here but Mac has always bailed us out.”

Watkinson’s team consists not only of Johnson but of Eds Copleston who will be eager to prove that there is life after captaincy, previous tourists Jonny Gates and Sam Langmead, who will have no doubt benefitted from the experience of their earlier chastening visit. Crowd favourite and talented Will Howard will be extremely useful behind the stumps in a pivotal role as will the OCCC’s most talented newcomers of the last three years Alan Cope and Matt Crump. Globetrotting Steve Bailey, recruited while drunk at the weekend’s OC Society Dinner, makes up the numbers.

Watkinson says he will set foot in Florida with a team that is cognisant of a gruelling three-day campaign in which everyone has to be at the top of their game to prevail but also with more than a little hope that this could be the year.

"This one is for Mac," Watkinson admitted.

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.

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!”

Gates to the rescue

Following an early morning shower, the sun came out as we arrived for our first game of the season - at the picturesque Follies Farm near Chiddingfold. In his first official game as captain, Eds Copleston won the toss and elected to field having agreed a 40 over-a-side game.

We bowled tightly early on, Luke Moorby unfortunate not to make a breakthrough. Old Spots struggled to 35 for 3 after 15 overs. Alex Craven and Henry Watkinson maintained the stranglehold, Watkinson unlucky not to take a wicket as Jock Vickers failed to hold on to a number of chances behind the stumps. Johnny Gates replaced Craven and immediately took a wicket as his flighted offbreaks confused the Old Spots middle order. Damian Hill replaced Watkinson and runs started to flow more freely. Gates maintained the stranglehold from the other end though and looked impressive, taking 3 for 34 as Old Spots struggled to 154 for 8 off their 40 overs. It should be noted that Vickers was banished as keeper after one drop too many, and Copleston got his reign off to a flying start when he cracked a finger diving over the ball.

In reply, we faltered early on with Will Howard punching the second ball of the innings directly at cover point and calling Tom Merry through for a single Usain Bolt wouldn’t have made. Briefly Copleston and Howard steadied the ship, but when Copleston fell we were shortly 52 for 3. Howard and Hill kept us ahead of the rate and at 82 for 3 off 15overs the game looked to be there for the taking. Howard, however, threw his wicket away with a trademark leading edge before Hill and Moorby fell shortly after. At 96 for 6 the game was very much in the balance. Watkinson and Gates then batted with determination before opening up towards the end to ensure a winning start to the new era.

Defeated but not disgraced

Old Malvernians 178 (Nash 70, Watkinson 4-14, Meaker 2-35) beat Old Cranleighans 152 (Waters 68) by 26 runs
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The dream of winning the Cricketer Cup in only our second year in the competition ended in the final at Old Deer Park as we lost to Old Malvernians by 26 runs. Nevertheless, we played superbly for three-quarters of the match and it was only in the dying overs that Malvern’s experience proved too much. They were the worthy winners but the youth of our side means that we should be a force to come for a number of years.

Malvern had a superb record in the competition, with five wins from five finals. Like us, they also made the final in their second year, although they went one better than we eventually managed.

Henry Watkinson won the toss and opted to field, hardly a surprise given that we had successfully chased in all four rounds. The pitch was dry and produced variable bounce, and Malvern found runs hard to come by. Stuart Meaker bowled a fiery opening spell, in contrast to Watkinson who relied on guile and accuracy and who took the first wicket in the sixth over, bowling Powell.

Watkinson’s opening spell of 5-2-4-1 set the benchmark, and Meaker got his reward four overs later when Mark Hardinges, who seven days earlier had steered Gloucestershire to a one-day win over Hampshire, dragged into his stumps for 2. Gifford looked capable of posing problems before he played an ugly cross-batted shot to Seren Waters, and at 31 for 3 in the 15th over, our tails were up.

Middlesex’s David Nash was clearly the danger man, and he found gaps with the skill expected of a professional, and with Franklin, the opener, he rebuilt the innings. Franklin should have been run-out with the score on 56 but Michael Chetwode fumbled a return to the bowler’s end with the batsman stranded mid pitch. However, we struck a crucial blow with the last delivery before lunch when Franklin tamely cut Matt Crump to Phil Roper at backward point for 29. We headed off in the better position, with Malvern 86 for 4 off 30 overs.

Nash and Usher batted well after the break, taking the total to 153 for 4 with judicious placement more than out-and-out aggression. In the innings overall there were only ten fours. In the final overs the batsmen hit out and, inevitably, wickets fell.

Nash perished for 70 to a tumbling catch from Roper and in the next over, the 46th, Meaker bowled Usher for 30. Watkinson then chipped in with two in two, and a brace of run-outs in the final over restricted Malvern to 178. Watkinson finished with excellent figures of 8-3-14-4 and the last six wickets had gone for 25 in five-and-a-bit overs.

The pitch continued to throw up puffs of dust and the outfield was slow, so it was a gettable target but not an easy one. The early sunshine had also given way to low cloud and the temperature had dropped into the 50s.

Waters top-edged the first ball he faced, a bouncer, over the keeper for four, and was struck by the second. But he showed composure beyond his years and was soon looking as assured as ever. Howard fell early, getting a leading edge, but that brought in Matt Crump, another young player in great touch.

Early shackles were broken when Waters twice lofted fours over midwicket, and Crump then joined in, surviving a half chance when he hammered the ball to the right of square leg who could only parry the ball.

Crump perished for 17 – one of three leg-befores against batsmen going back – and then Malvern’s seasoned spinners really tightened their grip on the game, backed by some excellent fielding. Abeed Janmohamed, such a class act in the semi-final, struggled to find his touch, but Waters kept things ticking along. Janmohamed departed for a 27-ball 3 (69 for 3) but Meaker sought to impose himself from the off.

The penultimate over before tea appeared to have swung the balance of the match, 15 coming off it including the day’s first six, a swing over long leg from Meaker. We headed off on 102 for 3 off 30, needing 77 to win in 20 overs with wickets in hand.

Whatever was served for tea, it perked up Malvern and pretty much did for us. Meaker fell lbw to the first ball after the restart and the pressure was on. James Halton, who specialises in run chases, looked up for it, but wasn’t able to stay long enough to make a difference.

Waters, who passed his fifty before tea, found it almost impossible to get enough of the strike. Eds Copleston was unable to push the ones needed to keep Waters at the striker’s end, although he did strike one sublime straight six.

The run-rate, which had hovered around four an over throughout, began to rise as the gloom worsened. Copleston perished trying to hit over the top, and three balls later Waters was bowled for a superb 68 as he tried to make up the lost ground.

From then on in we were always off the pace, although Tom Crump and Roper kept the flame flickering. Thirty three were needed off four, but Roper fell to a thick edge and then Crump was run-out after being sent back by Watkinson, who was bowled off the next ball to seal a deserved victory for Malvern.

The turnout was excellent, and many former and present OCCC players were in evidence, along with a good smattering of non cricketers and representatives of the school. There was a pleasant atmosphere, although staging the final at a ground under the Heathrow flight path was a downer.

Although the result was disappointing, everyone who has taken part in the competition for us this summer can be proud. As can the club and the school. Eight years ago we weren’t even in a knock-out tournament. In the interim we have won the Brewers Cup three times and the Cricket World Trophy once. Even participating in the Cricketer Cup was beyond our wildest dreams, and yet we achieved that and within two years we reached the final. We’ll just have to make sure that next year we go one better.

One last thought. In 2007, we became the first new side in the Cricketer Cup since it was expanded from 16 to 32 teams in its third year (1969). Our success has shown that there are strong sides out there who might not have been so four decades ago. Allowing some of these old boys’ teams into the competition can only bring new life to it, and the organisers should think about the value of looking at some expansion, adding new sides rather than waiting for old ones to drop out. It might mean a first qualifying round each year for the less successful teams, but that might be no bad thing either.

And now to the final

OCs 219 for 7 (Waters 57, M Crump 51) beat Old Alleynians 218 for 9 (Roy 57) by three wickets
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After three convincing and yet relatively straightforward wins, the semi-final against Old Alleynians was a far tougher affair, although the margin of our victory – three wickets – rather distorted our fairly calm progress until a late flurry of wickets within sight of the finish. The result was a place in the final at only the second time of asking, vindication for the organisers in allowing a new side into the competition for the first time in 40 years last summer, and also for the strength of Cranleigh cricket.

We had lost Stuart Meaker days before the game, called into the England Under-19 side for the Test series against New Zealand, and 19-year-old James Halton, a batsman highly rated by Stuart Welsh, came into the side. The weather was a rare scorcer in this otherwise wretched summer, and Alleynians had little hesitation on batting when again Henry Watkinson lost the toss.

Alan Cope opened with a brace of wides, but Watkinson, as he has so often done, broke through with the new ball, although on a good batting pitch, runs came quickly, especially when width was offered. But the innings turned on two run-outs. The first was a brilliant example of team-work, a seemingly fruitless chase to deep midwicket, a diving flick back on the rope to Seren Waters who had chased all the way as well, a bullet-like throw and a smart flick from Will Howard to leave the batsman inches short seeking a seemingly comfortable second.

Chris Jordan of Surrey, allowed to play on the condition he didn’t bowl fast, nonchalantly flicked Michael Chetwode off his legs to get off the mark and it appeared we were in for a long day in the field. But in the next over Roy pushed to point, Jordan called for a risky single only to be turned back and was never in the frame as Eds Coipleston’s throw scored a direct hit at the bowler’s end. Not needed as a batsman in the three previous rounds, it was his first real contribution to the cup run, but possibly it was a match-winning one. Jordan trooped off as the disbelieving Cranleighans mobbed the man with the plastacine arm.

Rattled, the Alleynians then found themselves pegged down by the teenage spinning duo of Waters and Phil Roper. Waters’ nagging legspin from the top end was hard to get away, while Roper, brought into the side in the previous round for the crocked Graham Webb, showed real potential.


Lunsh was entertaining, a barbeque on the run as Rick Johnson slightly miscalculated the time needed to cook chicken, but our young batsmen again came up with the goods when we started our chase. Howard and Waters made another good start, but hopes of another Howard onslaught were ended when he was caught behind for 20.

Matt Crump joined Waters and the scoring rate picked up as they took the score to 101 before Waters was caught behind off the bowling of Sivakumaran for 57. Cope arrived at the crease and looked at ease until falling LBW following an injudicious reverse sweep to a straight ball from Jordan, bowling off spin. It was not the first time the stroke had caused his downfall and won’t be the last.

The scoring rate had been good all the way through - however, with the arrival of Abeed Janmohamed, it picked up markedly. Hooking, pulling and driving the Dulwich opening bowler to distraction, Janmohamed made 35 in quick time before being caught on the boundary at long-leg going for another six. At 182 for 3, with Matt Crump again making batting look easy, we had one foot in the final. But Dulwich never gave up and, with the fall of the fourth wicket our lower middle order was exposed for the first time in the competition. A mini-collapse followed as we lost three further wickets in short order, including that of Crump to a top-edged swipe to leg for 51. Luckily, time was irrelevant and Tom Crump, aided first by Copleston and then by Roper, finally saw us home with Watkinson and Chetwode nervously padded up on the boundary.

“We have made it to the final at our first real attempt which is a testament to the strength of the school's cricket at the moment,” noted former captain and super veteran Michael Chetwode. “We mustn't forget that more than half this side are under 21 and, of the others, only two are over 30 (no names!). Dulwich came with what appeared to be a strong and well organised side but they should have been blown away. It's a credit to their tenacity and fighting spirit that they were in with a chance (however small) at the end despite looking down and out for long periods. It also shows that we can't be complacent in any facet of our game. We meet Old Malvernians on August 17 at Richmond and they will prove to be an altogether tougher assignment.”

Cheltenham brushed aside as semi-final looms

OCs 183 for 1 (Howard 89*, M Crump 69*) beat Old Cheltonians 182 (Lawrence 98, Brooksbank 29, M Crump 3-25, Watkinson 2-28, Waters 2-37, Chetwode 1-39, Cope 1-50) by nine wickets

On a glorious day in the almost perfect setting of Cheltenham College, we progressed through to the semi-finals of the Cricketer Cup with an emphatic nine-wicket win over Old Cheltonians, a victory achieved with almost 24 overs to spare.

The day got off to a dream start when Alan Cope struck first ball, the Cheltonian opener padding up to a delivery which held its line. For the next 45 minutes things went rather awry, Cope in particular coming in for some stick. At 70 for 1 after 12 overs, the home side seemed poised to rack up a large score on a good pitch. But Michael Chetwode and Seren Waters (younger than two of his bowling partner’s daughters) re-established control and then Matt Crump ripped through the middle order with three quick wickets, the best courtesy of an excellent leg-side stumping from Will Howard.

Cheltenham’s other opener, David Lawrence, familiar to members of the OCHC where he spends his winters, batted superbly to help his team close in on a decent score, and he was robbed of what would have been a deserved hundred when run-out by a direct hit from Cope when on 98. Nevertheless, the last three wickets added 71 to enable Cheltonians to post 182.

Waters and Howard got us off to a decent start before Waters fell for 15. But from 35 for 1, the batsmen took complete control. Howard, who admitted to being in a hurry because of a liaison with five American ladies in Fulham at 7.30pm, played in his typicall idiosyncratic manner, always offering bowlers hope but plundering runs with speed. He made the most of a reprieve when caught behind off a no-ball. Matt Crump, the hero of the second round, provided the perfect foil, unleashing some exquisite strokes without looking troubled.

In three games we have lost five wickets and, to date, our middle order has really not been tested. Spare a thought for Eds Copleston who has not bowled or batted so far in the competition.

We now face Dulwich, who beat Felsted in their quarter-final, on Jubilee on July 27.

Crump steers us into Cup quarter-finals

Old Cranleighans 238 for 2 (M Crump 107*, Cope 41, Howard 38, Janmohamed 36*) beat Old Cliftonians 235 for 9 (Houcke 100, Chetwode 3-38, Cope 3-47) by eight wickets
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A super hundred from Matt Crump guided us to an eight-wicket win over Old Cliftonians on the Lowers and book us a Cricketer Cup quarter-final trip to Cheltenham College. In two Cup matches this year we have only lost four wickets and the bulk of our runs have been scored by players under 22. The future really is bright.

On a sunny but windy day, Clifton won the toss. The pitch had little bounce and the ball didn’t come onto the bat, but it was a true surface. The first and crucial wicket, that of former England A and Gloucestershire batsman Matt Windows, owed nothing to the pitch, a Henry Watkinson full toss scooped back to the bowler. He struck again two overs later to leave Clifton 22 for 2.

Houcke and Meadows took the score to 74, struggling to get after Graham Webb who bowled through his ten overs for 28. Michael Chetwode’s first spell produced the breakthrough and a second catch for Abeed Janmohamed, and apart from one wayward over, he was typically parsimonious.

There then followed Clifton’s main stand, Houcke and Swetman adding 90 in 18 overs. Our fielding wobbled and we split four hard chances, and for a time there was a danger the game was going to get away from us. Chetwode finally lured Swetman into a weak drive, and from then on we regained control. The last 14 overs yielded 71 runs for six wickets.

Houcke continued to plough a lonely furrow, falling to a sharp stumping the ball after reaching his hundred. Morrison ruined Alex Craven’s figures with some good late hitting, but Alan Cope kept the damage within limits with an excellent late burst.

Our innings started shakily, Will Howard surviving the first of two drops in the opening over. His luck ran out when he had made 38 but by then he and Crump had got us off to a good start. Cope came in and looked in good touch, relishing a brief clash with Windows until trying for one hit too many.

At 121 for 2 we were still in the driving seats but quick wickets and we might have struggled. Abeed Jamohamed was not in the best of form but he dug in, rotated the strike and thumped the bad balls. Crump, happy to play second fiddle to Cope, upped a gear on his dismissal and drove in the V ruthlessly, especially on the leg side. Clifton wilted under the onslaught, their fielding became ragged and they split more catches. Crump reached his hundred with a pull through midwicket and an over later completed an emphatic win with a similar stroke.

Without exaggerating, this was probably the best day in the club’s history. Aside from this result, we also fielded an Under-21 side on Jubilee which would have beaten most opposition. With several players returning from the School match for the next round, for the first time the selectors face a real quandary over the team to take to Cheltenham.

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.

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!

Copleston upbeat about cup

Eds Copleston has announced his side for the first round of this year’s Brewers Cup campaign and has made a number of changes from last year’s side which suffered a heavy defeat to Bruton in the final.

He has rested bowling legend Mike Chetwode and left Ed Henderson out of the squad to ensure he is fit for subsequent rounds should the OCs win their first game against Bloxham on Sunday June 25.

"Having won the competition in 2002 and 2004, I felt last year we were simply going through the motions. No player has a given right to play in the Brewers Cup and my selection should demonstrate I am prepared to reward form players with a place in the side."

Allrounder Nick Read has been recalled having not played in the cup competition since 2002. "Reado gives me some solidiity in the lower middle order and has bowled well in the trial games against Winchester and Old Spots.

Copleston also brought in 16-year-old opening batsman Seren Waters who will partner Johnny Gates. "Seren is playing well for the school and is hungry for runs. I am excited about the boy’s future with the club."

The bowling will be spearheaded by ageing seamer Henry Watkinson & the surprise of last year's campaign Alex Craven. Copleston boasted: "England paceman Stuart Meaker was unavailable for this round but should join the squad if we manage to progress."

The spin department is bolstered with the inclusion of Ian Houston. "Ian will give us control in the spin department while Graeme Brown and Abeed Janmohamed offer variation. First-class wicketkeeper Will Howard retains the keeping gloves and Copleston is confident this could be Will's year with the bat. "Will shows a lot of promise with the bat. He hasn’t won us a match yet however, but I think as he matures he should become a special player and I would love to see him win man of the match one day."

In conclusion Copleston pointed out this year's campaign must be taken more seriously. "I think last year we all went through the motions believing we deserved to raise the cup. I’m afraid that won’t happen again with application and concentration. The dream is alive of three cups in five years, its time to let our cricket do the talking."

OCCC 1 Seren Waters, 2 Johnny Gates, 3 Eds Copleston (capt), 4 Will Howard (wk), 5 Abeed Janmohamed, 6 Graeme Brown, 7 Nick Read, 8 Matt Crump, 9 Henry Watkinson, 10 Ian Houston, 11 Alex Craven

Howard a big winner

Congratulations to Will Howard who was a member of the Horsham side which won the Cockspur Cup final at Lord’s, beating Barnet Green by three runs.

Week ends on a winning note

Despite gloomy weather forecasts and the late cry-off of Eton (for the second year running) the 2004 week was a great success, and particularly because we fielded more youngsters than ever before. On some days we had as many as six recent leavers, and all appeared to enjoy their first taste of OC cricket.

We started with the first defeat of the season at the hands of Sam Watkinson’s XI, never quite scoring enough runs despite Simon Copleston’s patient 99 – he ran himself out going for his hundred. The match was played in gloomy weather and suffered from three rain breaks. Eton’s cancellation on the Sunday was academic as it turned out as the groundsman decided the pitch was unfit early in the morning.

On the Monday we drew with Grasshoppers, facing 43 overs against the 63 we bowled at them. It was an unsatisfactory match, with Grasshoppers batting too long and OCs never mounting anything resembling a serious challenge. When the next day, on the one truly sunny one of the week, Georgians’ manager and umpire turned up, but not the side, things appeared to be in freefall.

The next morning we trooped down to Kent to play Tonbridge. Sadly while we were doing that, they were on the way to Cranleigh. Thanks to the wonders of mobile technology, the game was hastily rearranged at Cranleigh and we managed to scrape a two-wicket win.

The most dramatic finish of the week came at Charterhouse where we bowled them out for 117, then slumped to 101 for 9 before a four and two sixes in an over from Michael Chetwode guided us to victory.

On the Friday, Simon Copleston was again dismissed in the nineties against Celeriacs – as was Andy Houston in only his second game in as many years – and five-wickets from Chetwode, including the final one with three balls remaining – gave us three wins in three. Sadly, the Oldies failed to maintain the momentum as they slid to a four-wicket defeat by Surrey Cryptics.

The week ended on a high as we crushed Old Suttonians to book a place in the Brewers Cup semi-final, with Will Howard (94) and Abeed Janmohamed (65*) guiding us to 292 for 6 before three early wickets from Henry Watkinson ended match as a contest. On the Lowers, our second side went down to a 44-run defeat at the hands of Radley Rangers.

Full credit should go to Henry Watkinson for superb organisation and the occasional toy-throwing, Bryony Everett for excellent catering, and the young guns led by Gareth Starling and Johnny Gates who injected life (and in some cases volume) into proceedings. To all those who came down to watch and support, thank you. And to the discovery of the Red Lion in Shamley Green (£65 for a double, including excellent breakfast) as an alternative to East House ‘beds’ and accompanying chiming clock, for ensuring that Messrs Williamson, Chetwode and Seeckts will all be back in 12 months – is that a good thing?

Brewers Cup final player reports

Eds Copleston 9/10 Superb organisation before the game, captained well on the field and led by example. His innings, all the better given his medicocre form throughout the season, was vital to the win as it calmed nerves after the loss of an early wicket

Simon Copleston 8/10 Often criticised for slow scoring, he overcame his own scratchy form to grind out an absoluely vital innings in the context of the match, his partnership with his brother proving the match-winner.

Richard Hume 6/10 Unfortunate to play on after becoming slightly bogged down, he provided one of the moments of the day. After snicking the ball into his pads and from there straight to a close fielder, he sneered at the resulting appeal for lbw, exclaiming "How could that be out, I hit it". The umpire ignored the fact that it had been caught and the fielders were left amazed at Skippy's stupidity.

Mike Chase 7/10 The old man of the side fielded well and then resisted his natural urge to try and hit the cover off the ball, happily grinding out the runs needed to win. Only later did he admit that his average for the season is over 100 and he "wasn't going to throw away that for anyone".

Abeed Janmohammed 8/10 Bowled well after a shaky start which saw 10 come off his first over and, as ever, fielded quite superbly. Coming in at 94 for 3, he batted with great maturity and ensured that a mini-collapse didn't become a crisis.

Graeme Brown 6/10 Struggled to find his line and length with the ball, although did get turn. Fielded well but spilt what would have been an oustanding catch near the end.

Will Howard 8/10 Kept very well and stood up to all bowlers which put considerable pressure on the bastmen.

Nick Read 7/10 Overcame a nervous start (24 off his first four overs) to bowl with control, grabbing two wickets. Solid in the field, and amazingly got through the game without pulling any muscles.

Michael Chetwode 8/10 Despite a 24-hour drinking binge the day before (and resulting lecture from his captain) he bowled with his usual parsimony after a wobbly start, conceding just 11 runs in nine overs. Fielded like a man with a hangover.

Ed Henderson 8/10 Bowled with excellent control and, aided by Will Howard standing up to him, proved hard to get away. Took wickets as soon as he came on both times. Fielded well and almost took an brilliant catch.

Tim Evans 9/10 His medium-paced gentle outswing completely bamboozled the opposition, and he got the game off to a flier by taking a wicket with the first ball of the match. His return of 11-5-22-2 was by far his best for the club.

Supporters 10/10 Great turnout from the great and the good, with ages ranging from Viv Cox (84) down to the youngest member of the Chetwode clan at a few months. John McDermott so enjoyed the day that he briefly abandoned being rude to all and sundry. The free bar and food helped make for a great day.

Watkinson to miss Brewers Cup final?

Eds Copleston has announced his side for the final of the Brewers Cup against Old Herefordians at Milton Keynes on Sunday, September 1.

He has stuck by the players who guided us to our first limited-overs final, with the only surprise the omission of former captain Henry Watkinson. Two years ago Henry would have been one of the first names on the teamsheet, but he returned from a year in Australia massively overweight and unfit. Although a vigorous cabbage soup diet helped him shed much of his belly, his fitness remained a problem, a point stressed by Copleston. “He isnt fully fit or bowling as he needs to be to book a seat on the player's bus. I have the utmost respect for Henry- on top form he'd get into any side I picked. He's had an unlucky injury just before the last round that has wrecked his chances of being involved this year. I know him, he will come back stronger next year and I look forward to that.”

The only change from the side which beat Old Dunstonians in the semi-final was the return of veteran Mike Chetwode in place of schoolboy Johnny Gates. Gates played a crucial part in the win, and batted with great confidence at Blackheath, but Chetwode had to be accommodated. “Having to drop Johnny was not an easy decision,” admitted Copleston. “He had a fantastic day in the field and looks like a star in the making with the bat."

The OC batsmen are all in form which bodes well for the match, and the seam bowlers have all shown that they have adjusted well to the limited-overs format. Graeme Brown is the sole spinner, although the emergence of Abeed Janmohamed as an offspinner in the last season has given Copleston the luxury of a more than able sixth bowler.

Our opponents probably go into the match as favourites, having reached the final last season. Like us, they did their best to throw away the semi-final with a dramatic batting collapse, slumping from 102-0 to 113-5 chasing 120 to win. Strong batting, tempered with a propensity to collapse. It promises to be a good day out.

1. Richard Hume
2. Simon Copleston
3. Eds Copleston (c)
4. Mike Chase
5. Abeed Janmohammed
6. Graeme Brown
7. Will Howard (wk)
8. Nick Read
9. Mike Chetwode
10. Ed joHenderson
11. Tim Evans
12th man – Johnny Gates