Rhubarb October 2022

THE CRICKETER CUP 12th June 2022

The draw for the Cricketer Cup 2022 was held in London. Nicholson, distillers of Britain’s oldest gin, were unveiled as the new sponsors.All was good with the world….

Things slowly drifted downhill from there! Obviously, it was a joy to be sitting next to the Shrewsbury Saracens’ President, Nicko Williams, at the draw, but as we enjoyed Bonhomie and recollections of James Taylor’s century the last time we ventured so far west, we never imagined that lightning would strike again and they would be drawn first from the “hat” with us second! Sadly, there’s very little more to add.We did draw Saracens in the first round and we did put them in to bat.That was the end of the story.They scored a magnificent 367 for 6 off their 50 overs and we survived for 38 overs and nearly reached half their score. Hey-ho, let’s hope the 2023 draw brings us something more like the Thames Valley 2020 draw at Eton, though that was cruelly taken from us by the pandemic.We could hold the Beyond Teddies team to their promise of plentiful post-match celebration!

The specifics: Shrewsbury Saracens 367-6 (50 overs) beat St Edward’s Martyrs 153 (38.1 overs) by 214 runs.

MARTYRS

MARTYRSVs CRYPTICS 17th July 2022

missed at Point, when Giles Blanchard caught him at cover for 76. Matt Kitchen entered the fray and managed to support Elstone to the threshold of his century before being bowled by Craze. Elstone duly moved to his second century for the Cryptics in two weeks and saw us to within 100 of the target before picking out Deep Square Leg with the only chance he offered all afternoon. Niall Keown and Bertie Bennett Jones now had to maintain some momentum if 311 was to remain feasible and scoring at a run a ball they kept us in sight. Bennett Jones skied the ball to Craze with the score on 249 and this brought RuairiWillis to the crease.The run rate was now about ten an over andWillis and Keown kept this up to the last over when 11 runs were required to win. In an act of cunning,Archie Blanchard (Field House, 2008-2013), who had had only the briefest of sojourns out in the middle with the bat was given the responsibility of bowling the last over at his great friendWillis.The first ball was a wide legside full toss, whichWillis duly clipped to the boundary.A single to midwicket gave Keown the chance to close things out, but he top-edged to slip. Sam Jones putWillis back on strike with just five to win. It looked innocuous from the pavilion butWillis seemed to york himself with the fifth ball for no run.The last ball had to clear the ropes but only made it to deep mid-wicket and so the Cryptics were left just four runs adrift after an entertaining 42 from 28 balls from the skipper. This was a really good game of cricket which was played in a great spirit - the Martyrs rotated through all ten bowlers and maintained an attacking field until virtually the last over. In return the Cryptics kept up the chase even when it was starting to run away a bit.We immensely look forward to the fixture again next year. Report taken from the Cryptics Cricket Club website with additional editing by Pete Swainson (SCR and OSE,Tilly’s, 1995-2000)

F or the second year running we found ourselves playing the St Edward’s Martyrs on one of the hottest days of the year and whereas last year the pursuit had faltered and stalled, this year saw an exciting pursuit into the last over. RuairiWillis (Tilly’s, 2008-2013) invited the Martyrs to bat first and when they were soon languishing at 18-3 thanks to a strong opening assault fromWilliamWilkins and debutant Bertie Bennett Jones, there may have been a passing suspicion of a more modest run chase this year. However, Martyrs debutant Alfie Turner (Sing’s, 2020-2022) and Giles Blanchard (Field House, 2004-2009) set about the bowling with a different plan and raced to a hundred partnership. Sasha Barras stepped up with some left arm orthodox.After successive sixes from Blanchard, he bamboozled him with the next ball that led to a confused prod that ballooned up for Henry Sensecall to take his second catch of the innings. In his next over Luke Brennan (Field House, 2004-2009) edged Barras toWillis at slip and once again the Cryptics could be forgiven for experiencing a degree of satisfaction at having the Martyrs at 122-5.Another rapid fifty partnership between Turner and Ali Precious (Field House, 2004-2009) restored some respectability for the Martyrs, but this partnership was ended when Sam Jones trapped Precious LBW. Now Rob Craze (former Head of Cricket at St Edward’s) joined Turner and the carnival began. Lunch was taken at 1pm with the score on 232-6 off a little over 30 overs.Willis maintained a steady rotation of bowlers that saw everyone have a go but this could not stem the rising tide. He had the satisfaction of sending Turner back to the pavilion for a near run-a-ball 119 caught by Sensecall, but the Martyrs plundered their way to 311-7 declared off 47 overs. The Cryptics were not going to get 47 overs in return and so were going to need a steady run rate from the off. Sam Elstone was quickly into his stride with some glorious stroke play through the leg side accruing runs effortlessly.After Sensecall's early departure with the score on 20, Barras came out to join Elstone.Together they amassed a partnership of over 150 which until the last few overs was chanceless. Barras' luck finally ran out, having been dropped at Mid On and narrowly

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