St Edward's Rhubarb Issue 5

ST EDWARD’S

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

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

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

Cricketer Cup.

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!

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