St Edward's Rhubarb Issue 5

54 ST EDWARD’S r h u b a r b

In the Quarter-Final we faced our nemesis of recent years, Shrewsbury Saracens, though mercifully at home on Upper One, rather than away in deepest darkest Shropshire. We welcomed yet another debutant in to the side; recent leaver and captain of the incredibly successful 2015 1st XI Calvin Dickinson (C, 2010-2015). With Calvin opening the batting we got off to yet another flying start, before losing Alex Smith in the 7th over to leave us 45-1. Calvin and Feroz briefly continued the onslaught, before being tied down by some accurate Saracens bowling and succumbing in quick succession of one another. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to build a single further significant partnership and, criminally, were bowled out for 190 in the 43rd over! We knew we were at least 30 runs short of a truly defendable target and, despite our best efforts in the field never really looked like bowling the Saracens out. Charlie Sutton (C, 1997- 2002) was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-21. Another year and another heart- breaking Quarter-Final defeat! However, we really are moving in the right direction and, with the continuing conveyor belt of exceptional cricketers the School are currently producing, plus a Martyrs tour to Barbados in 2017, it surely can’t be long until we find ourselves in the promised land of a Cricketer Cup Semi-Final…! In addition to the Cricketer Cup we also enjoyed another competitive game against the 1st XI at Gaudy and three games during Cricket Week, which included some fine performances from Angus Spratling (G, 2008-2013), who took 4-83, and Harry Nicholl (C, 2010-2015), with a maiden Martyrs half-century, both against the Free Forresters, plus a long overdue maiden century for Harry Sutton against the SOA! Peter Swainson (F, 1995-2000)

M A R T Y R S

The Martyrs celebrate following their 35-run victory over the Charterhouse Friars in the 2nd Round of the Cricketer Cup.

Cricket The Martyrs Cricket Club continues to grow from strength to strength and had another very successful season in 2015. In preparation for the Cricketer Cup the Martyrs enjoyed a fine 4 wicket over the Old Cheltonians, with Pete O’Sullivan (A, 2007-2009) taking 5-43 as we restricted the OC’s to 233 for 9 off their 50 overs. In reply Harry Sutton (C, 2000-2005) and Matt Baggs (E, 1996-2001) made half centuries, as we knocked off the runs for the loss of just 6 wickets. Unfortunately the weather got the better of our other ‘warm up’ fixtures against the Marlborough Blues and the Radley Rangers meaning we were potentially a little ‘undercooked’ before we faced Felsted Robins in the 1st Round of the Cup. However, these fears seemed unfounded as we regularly took Robins wickets to restrict them to 213 for 8 off their 50 overs, with skipper Francois Vainker (A, 2001-2006) taking 3-26. In reply Alex Smith (G, 2005-2010) and Cup debutant Feroz Baig (H, 2009-2014), got us off to a flyer, before both falling in the space of 9 balls. Two further quick wickets saw us struggling at 100-4, before the experienced James Barrett (E, 1997- 2002), ably supported by Cup debutants Jonathan Skull (C, 2000-2005) and then Jasper Joyce (K, 2005-2010) seemed to be steering us to the target. However, in true

Martyrs fashion, we collapsed to 197-8! Thankfully, Jasper, ably supported by Harry Sutton saw us over the line to the relief of supporters and players alike! In the 2nd Round we played Charterhouse Friars and welcomed two further debutants, Joe Barrett (B, 2010-2014) and Miles Hammond (H, 2009-2014), stars of the undefeated 2014 1st XI in to the side. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Joe and Miles got us off to another flying start. Joe and then Feroz fell in quick succession to leave us 93-2 off the first 15 overs – an excellent foundation to construct a big score. However, despite almost everyone getting starts we were bowled out for 254 – a competitive, but not a decisively match winning score. Thankfully our bowling unit delivered once again; taking two very important wickets inside the first 2 overs and restricting the Friars to 67-5. To the Friars credit, they consolidated well and by the 40th over had reached 150 for the loss of just 1 further wicket. However, with skipper Vainker and the Martyrs all-time leading Cup wicket taker, Hugh Rogers (A, 1973-1978), now bowling in tandem, we took regular wickets (including an incredible catch by James Barrett on the long-off boundary) and eventually bowled them out for 219 to book our place in the Quarter-Finals – our 3rd in the last four years!