U14 A v Haileybury

Result: Won by 79 runs

Review: An all-round team performance saw Felsted get back to winning ways after a thumping the previous week. A gloriously sunny day provided the opportunity to bat first as Henry Hoare and James Lennon made the most of the conditions, scoring 89 for the first wicket. Both had batted watchfully and as Lennon departed for 45, the springboard had been laid down for an onslaught in the following overs.

Two cheap wickets fell, however, as Hoare continued to bat sensibly. Hoare’s effort allowed George Hitchcock to come to the party, providing an entertaining cameo which saw him score 23 off 18 balls. With the slow outfield the score of over 150 was an impressive feat paced perfectly by the Felsted batsmen.

The fireworks hadn’t yet started though. Opening bowler Archie Halls, coming in off his new shortened run, ripped the heart out of the Haileybury run chase before it had begun. A triple wicket maiden left the opposition 1-3 after his first over and then 9-4 at the end of his second. With the ball swinging and seaming Halls had effectively won Felsted the game within 12 balls as Haileybury struggled to recover. Backed up by some excellent catching Felsted managed to chip away at the remaining wickets to record a comfortable win.

Player of the match: Archie Halls

2nd XI v Haileybury

Result: Won by 8 wickets

Review: On the road once more, we bowled steadily. More importantly, the team took wickets at regular intervals, apart from their young opener who fell in the final over for a solid 58. There was a minor panic when their number 7 tucked in to some juicy bowling from Hutchinson and Sellers, and we might have had cause to regret our shoddy outfielding. Their last wicket fell on the final ball of the innings. Thorpe-Apps after an unusually untidy start ended with 3-18, and George Padfield a remarkable 3-13, with only one no-ball!

As against King’s the week before, we started steadily, with Padfield and Chris George putting on 70 for the first wicket: a sound foundation for Ben Latham and Jordan Lillie, who both played an array of shots – some fluent, others rather agricultural, but all very effective, to take the game away from our opponents. Both batsmen finished on 41* as we cruised to victory with 6 overs to spare – a highly satisfying day out.

Player of the match: Padfield (3-13 and 25)

U15 A v Haileybury

Result: Felsted won by 5 wickets

Review: Haileybury 155/2 (35 overs)

Felsted 156/5 (29.5 overs) (T. Kingham 57*, T. Latham 40*)

After the frustration of Oundle, and the disappointment of King's

Canterbury, it was crucial that we got a result on Saturday against Haileybury.  Training was sharp and on Tuesday, the side comfortably beat the under 14s in a 20 over fixture. Everything looked in place as the sun beat down on Saturday afternoon.

Fielding first, we knew that early wickets could be the key. In Harry Brooke's first over, there were two close calls; a catch went down, and only an inside edge saving the batsman from a leg before decision.  Following this bright start, we lost our way as several bowlers struggled into the wind, and the Haileybury openers played positively to take them to 54 for 0 in 12 overs.  At this point, our spinners (Ollie Grayson and Max Malins) managed to gain us some control. Although we still did not take wickets, the opposition were not able to get away. When Callum MacDonald finally made the breakthrough with a well judged catch off his own bowling, they were only on 112 after 28 overs and we were still very much in the game.  They tried to accelerate in the final few overs, but with Harry Brooke returning to complete an excellent spell (and in the process effect a very good run out), the final target of 156 in 35 overs was well within reach.

Of course, the batting has not been functioning very well so far.  A change in the order saw Freddie Burns promoted to open.  He promptly fell for 0 in the first over!  Ollie Grayson was next to go, bowled for a duck. When Harry Brooke pushed a wide delivery to gulley for 0, we were 19 for 3, and in dire straits.  It was not quite time to panic though, as Max Malins was playing beautifully. Having reached 20, however, a ball that was going harmlessly down the leg side deflected off his boot, and rolled onto the leg stump.  26 for 4 and optimism was fading fast.  Tom Kingham was joined by James Smith, and with Smith playing a couple of very positive strokes, the score pushed along to 47 for 4. But when Smith fell for 14, the scoreboard read 47 for 5 in 12 overs; the obituaries were being written, and the press conference was being prepared for the resignation speech.  Fortunately, Tom Kingham found a stubborn partner in Tom Latham, and they at least showed the intent to get stuck in.

The back up bowling from Haileybury was not that strong, and the two Toms took advantage.  No major risks, but bad balls were hit and singles were taken.  Suddenly the score was 70, then 80, and then at drinks 100 for 5 off 20 overs.  Haileybury hesitated, when their opening bowlers should have come back.  It was a fatal mistake and as the two grew in confidence, the run rate increased.  A couple of run out chances were spurned. Kingham was dropped at extra cover, but by now he was into his stride, striking over the top with great power, and passing a superb second fifty of the season.  With Haileybury a beaten side, the two did not relax and finished the game off themselves, bringing us victory by 5 wickets with a little over 5 overs to spare.  It had seemed a very unlikely outcome just an hour earlier, but showed just how well these two had played.

Of course, there is much more to come from this side still.  We must take our catches, and bowl fewer poor balls.  We must be patient at the top of the order and not give the bowlers a chance to get us out cheaply. In terms of resilience and character, however, this was one of the best.

Player of the match:  Tom Latham and Tom Kingham

 

U14 B v Haileybury

Result:Won by 3 runs

Review: Felsted won a thrilling match on Saturday by 3 runs, after having staged a remarkable comeback from the dire straits of 25-4. A 50 run partnership between Oliver Squibb and Harry Pilcher transformed the match. Harry’s adhesive batting lent stability to the innings, allowing Oliver the freedom to play his shots, the most memorable of which was a huge six over midwicket, which drew a round of applause from the spectators! Felsted’s final total of 111 was competitive and the occasional delivery was beginning to keep low on a two-paced pitch. There was an opportunity for the Felsted bowlers to push for victory, which they seized with both hands.  Ben Jewell’s accurate out swingers and James McCran’s hostile and fiery left arm deliveries complemented each other perfectly and between them, they accounted for five wickets. Oliver Squibb’s left arm wrist spinners, which he has been perfecting in the nets, added excellent variety to the attack and Harry Pilcher also chipped in with a valuable wicket. However, Felsted could not shift the big hitting Haileybury number six, which meant that the match went down to the last over. Simon Holme, whose captaincy had been superb all the day, took the responsibility on himself to bowl the final over under huge pressure. He only conceded four runs, leaving Haileybury three runs short of their target. This was a great superb team performance and will hopefully set us up for the rest of the season.

   

1st XI v Haileybury

Result: Match drawn

Review: Felsted 270-9 dec, Haileybury 166-9 

After Felsted had played all the good cricket in the game, a draw with Haileybury was frustrating to say the least. To their credit, the last pair for the away team batted out the last 16 overs of the game. It seemed impossible at 6 o clock that at 7.15pm the game would still be going on.

Another sunny day started with Felsted being inserted on a flat track.

This meant either Haileybury fancied the chase or had come for the draw. As the game unfolded it became obvious which option was in operation. Before that, however, Hebron (53) showed his touch with the bat for the first time this season. Hassan (49) and Hunter-Jordan (70), both batting with authority, also helped Felsted compile 270-9. The side did have a little wobble in the middle, but Lewis (29) guided the bottom order through to post a total and allow Felsted to declare just before half time. 

Haileybury reply hit the rocks early with 3 wickets falling before tea. After the tea break they built a partnership; once it was broken the wickets steadily fell. Initially it was the pace and excellence of Price (5-31) who took control, but Lewis (2-9) came back on into the wind and nipped a couple out. When the 9th wicket fell with 16 overs left, it looked inevitable that Felsted would wrap the game up. However, the last pair blocked all the various bowling efforts on a now perfect batting track. 

Although frustrated that the win had not been attained, it can't disguise the dominance of the performance.

   

Felsted Boys Achievement Day

Joshua Wells, Jake Foley and Rehan Hassan were invited to Lords to be presented with a special commemorative plaque by the MCC on the 4th Day of the England v West Indies Test Match. They had achieved this honour by either scoring a 100 or taking 5 wickets in the school game against the MCC the previous season. Wells scored a hundred for the 1st XI and Foley took 5 wickets, while Hassan took 5 wickets and scored 100 for Brentwood before commencing his schooling at Felsted in September 2011. Unfortunately, due to the weather none of the current XI were able to emulate or repeat the achievement this season.

The day was an amazing one from start to finish for the trio and made even more memorable by Mr Gallian knowing a few influential individuals at the Home of Cricket. Mr Knightley and Mr Allen, who are members of the club along with Mr Gallian, escorted the boys to the Media Centre prior to lunch where they had the opportunity to speak with Ian Ward, Michael Holding, David Gower, Nick Knight (OF), Michael Vaughan, Simon Hughes, Derek Pringle (OF) and Nasser Hussain. They also saw Ian Botham, Vivian Richards, Michael Atherton and David Lloyd hard at work. The boys were certainly in heaven and to meet so many greats of the game in a short period of time was certainly a privilege for all. Michael Vaughan, who spent some time talking to the boys, was very intrigued on how Mr Gallian and his Geography lessons were coming along - although he did note that he was well travelled and in touch with the local culture around the globe!

This unique opportunity, before the main award ceremony on the pitch, will live long in the boys memory. To step on the hallowed turf, however, and receive their plaque was a well deserved and proud moment for the boys and their families, who had also been allocated tickets for the day and dined for breakfast, dinner and tea, along with the trio. Felsted were the only school to have 2 boys (3 if we count Hassan as our own now) getting awards and to see them on the pitch sporting the Felsted 1st XI blazer was a proud moment for the supporting staff. The boys arrived in the Long Room at 12.30pm and as the players left for lunch the boys marched onto the ground.

During this time Mr Gallian had worked his magic on the Pavilion manager and had arranged for the boys to have a tour of the pavilion. After the boys had enjoyed a substantial lunch in the Thomas Lord Suite, they were treated to the tour and a fantastic view of the game from all levels of the historic building. As tea approached the boys were ushered away for their talk on the MCC and the leavers (Wells) left with forms to complete.

The day was completed by watching England close on 10-2, needing another 181 to win after a superb day for the West Indies; but it was an even better one for Felsted cricket. Congratulations to the boys who I know were very grateful and humbled by the day. I also thank them for their excellent behaviour in representing the school during the day. One member, who sat next to the boys at lunch, stated 'They are passionate about the game and were a pleasure to sit with and they are a credit to you'.

1st XI v King's Canterbury

Result: Won by 90 runs 
Review: Felsted 1st XI v King's Canterbury 1st XI Felsted 270-9 dec ( Hassan 114, Wells 58, Foley 45) King's 180 all out (Burns 4-19) Felsted Won by 90 runs. 

Felsted were inserted on a morning ideal for bowling. It was credit to the top order then that they took the game away from King's with aggressive running after the early demise of Hebron to a rash shot. Hassan and Wells then built an impressive partnership that saw the bad ball being dispatched and the good one going for a single. Wells fell to a turning ball on 58 and Hunter-Jordan fell cheaply to a soft dismissal. Hassan and Griggs re-built the innings before a run out. However, at lunch Felsted were well placed at 171-4 from 32 overs. After lunch Seager, who had looked comfortable, fell first ball LBW, but Foley (45) scored at an excellent pace to support Hassan who passed three figures during a period of play in which Foley had dominated the partnership. It was another example of how partnerships ebb and flow and that sitting in at times is needed. 270 in 51 overs was an excellent total.

Bowling a side out on an improving surface was going be tough and the 50 minutes prior to tea were going to be key. Burns and Price opened up well, with Price clean bowling the opener with the first ball. Burns chipped away at the other end and to take 4 wickets in that session was to prove crucial. After tea King's battled hard and each batsman made their wicket hard to get.

Hebron broke the key partnership and then it was a slow but steady taking of wickets. King's approached the last 12 overs with 4 wickets left, but with 8 to go that had been reduced to 2. When Hunter-Jordan held on to a nick from Hebron, Felsted had 3 overs to force a win. Wells who had juggled his bowlers well, turned to Hassan who had not bowled much during the previous 57 overs, but his ability to turn the ball was going to trouble the tail-enders and so it proved when a very full ball did enough to gain the LBW with the batsman right back in his crease

   

2nd XI v King’s Canterbury

Result: Lost by 4 wickets 

Review: On a placid pitch we batted sedately, with Chris George finally back from injury compiling a steady and sometimes fluent 43. Runs dried up in the middle of the innings, and it was left to Charlie Kingham (32*) to smite a few lusty blows, ensuring that we reached 127-7 off our 35 overs.

Their innings was almost a carbon copy; however our inability to dislodge their young opener gave them a solid start, and the same problem with their number 6 (61*) enabled them to reach the modest target with 9 balls to spare.

Player of the match: Kingham (32* and 2-12)

   

U14 B v King’s Canterbury

Result: Lost by 20 runs 
Review: With summer at last making an appearance, Felsted hosted an opposing XI from King’s, Canterbury. The Felsted new ball bowlers soon made inroads into the fragile King’s top order. James McCran took two wickets with his slingy left arm pacers and, bowling an exacting five over spell from the Garnetts End, Ben Jewell clean bowled three batsmen. His third over was a wicket maiden and his subtle mixture of in-swing and out-swing proved unfathomable. Oliver Squibb, Stefan Warner and Simon Holme were also amongst the wickets but having had the opposition reeling at 57-6 the Felsted bowlers didn’t quite bowl full or straight enough to finish off the lower order quickly. This allowed King’s to recover to an imposing total of 133-8 off 25 overs. The King’s opening bowlers pitched the ball up and soon found a testing length. With both Oliver Salmon and Simon Holme dismissed cheaply on this occasion, it was left to Pierre Davies and Harry Pilcher to launch a counter-attacking partnership of 30 runs. However, a combination of skilful bowling and, it has to be said, some awful running between the wickets, demolished the Felsted middle order. The only bright spot was a disciplined and determined knock of 27 from Rory McLaren, ably supported by some hefty blows from James McCran. Their last wicket partnership got Felsted to within 20 runs of the King’s total but as last week against Oundle, the chase fell just short of the target.

   

U14 A v King's Canterbury

Result: Lost by 71 runs

Review: King’s Canterbury 156-7 (30 overs), Felsted 85 all out (22.5 overs). 

Felsted U14 A stumbled to defeat against an impressive King’s Canterbury outfit. Upon winning the toss Henry Hoare invited the opposition to bat under muggy, overcast conditions, surely expecting to make early inroads to the King’s line-up. Although opening bowlers Ashleigh Cox and Archie Halls were economical they were unable to make the breakthrough Felsted needed and the King’s pair saw off the new ball confidently.

Through the middle overs the King’s batters accelerated and punished some wayward Felsted bowling. The Felsted spinners, Hoare and Gilham, again produced tight spells but too late in the innings to influence the scoring rate as King’s, with wickets in hand, scored a handy 156-7 off their 30 overs.

The run-chase could not have got off to a worse start as James Lennon was involved in a messy run out in the first over leaving Felsted 0-1. Some rebuilding was immediately needed as Henry Hoare and Ashleigh Cox moved the score to 37 before Hoare mistimed a pull shot straight back to the bowler. The score soon became 45-3 as the unfortunate Cox was run out backing up at the bowlers end for an excellent 27. After that the innings never really got going and the third run out of the day saw Ed Smith removed after a simple chance was dropped, catching both batsmen ball watching in the middle of the wicket.

From here Felsted lost regular wickets and never really looked in the game. John Brodie (15) showed a bit of fight towards the end of the innings but still it was a day to learn from for the Felsted boys.

   

U15 A v King’s Canterbury

Result: Lost by 9 wickets
Review: Felsted 106 all out (30.1 overs) (F. Burns 36), King’s 107-1 (26.2 overs). 

Having made the long journey to Canterbury, we were asked to bat. It looked a decent surface - a bit on the slow side, but no terrors in it, and with 35 overs at our disposal, we should have been confident of setting a challenging target.  Unfortunately, having worked on running between the wickets on Friday in training (and doing so well!), we got it wrong immediately, and Max Malins found himself out for 0.  Things soon deteriorated, as Ollie Grayson fell leg before wicket, and Tom Latham was given out caught behind (although he didn't hit it!).  With the need to rebuild, Tom Kingham joined Harry Brooke - the pair that had put us back on track against BSC recently.  Unfortunately, after a few overs of gathering ourselves, Harry managed to miscue a full toss, and get caught at mid on.  James Smith threated to play a fighting innings, before being done by an excellent yorker, but it was Freddie Burns who top scored again, making 36.  Kingham fell for 18, Begley ran himself out, Jackson was bowled aiming a blow to the legside, and Williams was done by the fatal combination of beamer (hit in the grill!)and a straight ball (stumps rearranged), as we fell for just 106.

Realistically, this was not enough on this pitch, so we had to give it everything.  When Brooke struck in his first over, we had a chance to make inroads, but their captain, along with the opening batsman, got stuck in, and a succession of chances and half chances were missed (six in all).  If we had picked these two up at around the 50 mark, we would have been able to apply the pressure, and our spinners would have threatened.  As it was, they survived, and both grew in confidence, hitting over the top, as they ended up racing to their target with just one wicket lost.

Back to the drawing board.  There is plenty of talent in this group of players, but runs don't score themselves, and catches need to be caught. Freddie Burns had another good game, and Harry Brooke's bowling looks more and more of a threat.  This needs to be the week when the rest start to contribute more as well, if we are to start winning games.  I hope that we will have a cup game this week, and on Saturday, we are home to Haileybury.  I look forward to a performance that is worthy of your support!
Player of the match: Freddie Burns

U14 B v Oundle

Result: Lost by 14 runs
Review: After such a wet and soggy start to the season it was a great relief to both players and staff to finally get a game! Hopes were high that using the ‘home advantage’ of playing on the artificial ‘flix pitch’ we might be able to run a traditionally strong Oundle team close. Team captain Simon Holme called correctly and inserted the opposition, hoping that the batsmen might succumb to the slightly variable bounce on offer. His decision was superbly supported by Felsted’s array of pace bowlers who pitched the ball up and imposed a McGrath-esque stranglehold on the Oundle batsmen. It took until the 10^th over for a boundary to be conceded and Ben Jewell’s outswingers in particular proved impossible to get away. James McCran, Harry Pilcher and Stefan Warner were soon amongst the wickets and all the bowlers were well backed up by some smart and alert fielding, not least from the captain himself who finished the innings off with a run out.  James McCran also stunned the opposition with a brilliant direct hit from fine leg. Having bowled Oundle out for 104, the Felsted opening pair began aggressively. Oliver Salmon timed the ball well through the covers and Simon Holme was severe on any loose deliveries. However, when they both departed in quick succession the middle order rather lost its way against the relentless spin attack of the opposition. However, some positive hitting from Oli Squibb, well supported by Charlie Sturge and George Pohl, set up an exciting finish. However, the Felsted team fell 14 runs short of what would have been a superb victory. Credit must go to all the players who played with real enthusiasm and a really positive spirit- with a few improvements to the batting, there will be victories aplenty to come. Thanks also to Rory McClaren for his very accurate scoring.

U15 A v Oundle

Result: Lost by 28 runs

Review: Oundle 129 all out (29 overs) (F. Burns 3 for 32, O. Grayson 3 for 18, H. Brooke 2 for 14) Felsted 101 all out (25.1 overs)

Although the pitches have had to cope with a remarkable amount of rain in the last few weeks, it was good to get a home fixture in, as one of six games we hosted against Oundle.

Bowling first, Harry Brooke and Charlie Duke each took a wicket, before Freddie Burns picked up 3, to leave Oundle in trouble at 64 for 5.  However, they rallied with a few

agricultural blows, taking 24 from the next three overs, before captain Ollie Grayson bowled a remarkable over, bringing two wickets for him, and a run out.  Suddenly 89 for 8, and we were back in control.  Grayson got one more wicket, but an attacking last wicket stand of 26 saw them post a decent final total of 129 all out.

After a steady beginning we were 26 for 0 in reply after 8 overs, but unfortunately Max Malins hit a short ball to point, to fall for 14.  As the run rate began to rise, so did the pressure, and Ollie Grayson fell next, hitting a full toss to square leg, who took a good catch.  At the half way stage, we were only 40 for 2, and needing a run a ball for the remaining 15 overs.  Unfortunately rash shots accounted for the two Toms, Kingham and Latham, in quick succession, James Smith fell cheaply, and Harry Brooke fell as well, and we were 50 for 6.  Freddie Burns with 18 top scored, and although Will Jackson hit the shot of the day first ball, he was not able to repeat Tuesday's heroics.  At least Callum MacDonald (10 not out) put up a fight, as he added 29 for the last wicket with Freddie.

Player of the match: Freddie Burns

   

1st XI v Oundle

Result: Match drawn

Review: Felsted were inserted for the first game on the front of 2012, which was taking place on May 12th. The wicket was in good nick considering the weather, but the outfield was still soggy and not giving batsmen value for runs. Felsted started positively with Hebron and Wells running well to keep the score ticking over and at 36-0 from 7 overs the home side were in a comfortable position. Felsted were rocked by 3 wickets with Wells, Hebron And Hunter-Jordan all falling with the score on 36. The rebuild saw Griggs and Hassan bat well and it was unfortunate that both fell before lunch with the score on 133-5 from 31 overs. Hassan had just passed his 50 when he fell LBW. After lunch the boys had identified that the 30 mins proceeding the interval would be crucial and so it was disappointing that 3 soft wickets fell in that period and at 142 -8 were in danger of collapsing to a very ordinary bowling attack. However, the depth of the team came through and Stevens batting at 10 (42*) supported by Price and Burns took the score to 207 before Burns succumbed. This was no more than a score that gave us a chance, but with a batting line up including several talented players it was a disappointing display, albeit with some bright moments and positive intent.

In reply Oundle showed a surprisingly negative approach and at tea, after some fine seam bowling from Price (5-3-10-0) and Burns (5-2-6-0), they were 24-0 from 14 overs. Sadly 2 easy chances were put down and to win the game these were crucial. After tea the bowlers all bowled with discipline and despite having wickets in hand Oundle were digging themselves a hole. At 55-2 from 25 the top order were giving the middle order an impossible task and when 3 wickets fell quickly and they found themselves on 88-5 from 35 overs, the last 19 overs were purely left for Felsted to try and buy a couple of wickets and entice some attacking shots. Although Oundle lost a couple more wickets on the way to 169-7, Felsted ran out of time.

Felsted certainly looked and played the better cricket on the day, but didn't quite do enough to clinch victory. However, both sides had a game of cricket which was looking unlikely on the Thursday after yet more rain.

U14 A vs Oundle

Result: Won by 49 runs

Review:  Felsted U14 A’s claimed their second victory of the week by comfortably defeating Oundle by 49 runs. Felsted lost the toss and were invited to bat by the Oundle captain who was trying to exploit the lingering moisture in the wicket. This decision initially proved fruitful, as James Lennon was clean bowled for 7 with the score on 15. This, however, bought Ashleigh Cox to the crease who was in determined mood. Along with captain, Henry Hoare, they put the pressure back onto the Oundle fielders by running intelligently between the wickets and punishing any wayward bowling.

When Henry Hoare departed LBW for 34 the partnership had reached 100 with the more aggressive Cox looking to push on. What followed was a surprise as one of the Oundle seam bowlers found some swing, ripping out the Felsted middle order, including Cox for an excellent 71.  115-1 became 120-6 in the space of 3 overs and the impetus appeared to have been lost. Thankfully some sensible batting by Archie Halls (13) and Ed Smith (10 not out) allowed Felsted to post a more than competitive 146-7 (30 overs).

Felsted then produced an exceptional team performance in the field, led by Alex Gilham and George Hitchcock, who both produced fine catches to help make early inroads into the Oundle line-up. Cox, Halls, Wisbey and Jackson all produced tight spells, picking up 3 wickets between them. The pressure was starting to build on the Oundle batsmen and the spinners, Hoare and Gilham, took advantage of the ever-increasing run rate by collecting the last 7 wickets between them for 40 runs, bowling Oundle out for 96, Hoare finishing with impressive figures of 4-9 and Gilham 3-31.

2nd XI v Oundle

Result: Lost by 7 runs

Review: The season finally began three weeks into the term with a home match against Oundle. We started well by winning the toss and choosing to field. We bowled well with Matthew Thorpe-Apps particularly miserly, allowing only 6 scoring shots in his six overs. However, we bowled 20 extra balls which is unsatisfactory in a 30 over game. Some stunning catches were held by Jordan Lillie, Jamie Baker and George Padfield in particular and we restricted the opposition to an eminently gettable 132 for 6.

Our innings started slowly: we crawled to 31 for 3 off 14 overs. 99 off 16 looked out of reach, but Hugh Fillingham had other ideas. He played magnificently, making 70 in very quick time including one 6 and 11 4s, supported well by a defiant Rory Hutchinson (20), but finally played one too many attacking shot with only 9 runs needed, and 8 balls left. The tail crumbled and we were 7 runs short at the end, rueing the no balls, wides and dropped catches.

An enjoyable start to the season with many pleasing aspects: we look forward, weather permitting to our away match against King’s Canterbury on 19^th May.

 Player of the match: Hugh Fillingham

   

1st XI National 20/20 Competition

1st XI v Shenfield, Round 1 National 20/20 Competition, Sunday 13th May 2012

Result: Won by 127

Review:  Felsted 208-7 Shenfield 81-9 Felsted Won by 127 Felsted won the toss and at 8-2 with Hebron and Hunter-Jordan back in the hutch it was not looking like the plan of score board pressure would come to fruition. However, Wells (55 from 26) and Hassan (56 from 35) started freeing the shackles and hitting the shorter boundary. After Wells departed to a run out, which was unfortunate as the running between the wickets was a feature of the partnership, Foley (49 from 18) continued the power hitting. At one point he was eyeing up 6 sixes in the over. The innings continued to build until eventually after 20 overs the XI posted an impressive 208-7. Chasing a large total is never easy and after the initial few overs it was obvious that Shenfield weren't going to be given the opportunity to target the short boundary on account of some disciplined bowling. All the bowlers bowled well in restricting Shenfield to 81-9, but Brooke on promotion from the U15 XI excelled with 4-1-17-5.

1st XI v Coopers Coburn 1 National 20/20 Competition, Sunday 13th May 2012

Result: Won by 166

Review:  Round 1 National 20/20 Competition (Game 2) Felsted 260-3 Coopers Coburn 94 all out Felsted Won by 166 runs Felsted were brutal in the final group game of Round 1 and secured a place in Round 2 by posting 260-3 in the allotted 20 overs. Wells (115) and Hunter-Jordan (74) did the majority of the damage, but Hassan (29*) showed his class with some powerful hitting at the death to rub salt into the wound. Felsted went from 178 to 260 in the last 5 overs. Coopers in reply had to try and hit out from ball 1, but the bowling, impressive in the first game of the day, again stopped any chance of a chase. Brooke who took 5 wickets in game 1, finished with 7 for the day and made an impressive 20/20 debut.

U15B v Oundle

Result: Match drawn
Review: Review: an instructive and entertaining match: Felsted reduced Oundle to 109-9 with some good bowling especially by Latham, Scott-Bowden W. and Knudsen in particular and some sharp fielding. They then lost concentration and the plot, allowing Oundle’s last pair to put on 50 unbeaten with some inexplicably bad bowling and slack fielding. 159-9 after 30 overs at tea.

Early wickets fell and the cause looked lost. Lucas and Abbas steadied things, but when Lucas and Latham had gone it was 64-5, which soon became 69-7. Williams O. then batted very responsibly with Lucas, but the latter was eighth out at 104. Piper then came in and though his contact with the ball was erratic, he and Williams put on 49 for the ninth wicket. With two balls to go and seven required, Knudsen arrived, to face  - after a very unwise but all too common error by the Oundle captain – a medium-pacer instead of the slow left-armer, who would have been much more risky for tail-enders to get away. All take note! Knudsen missed the fifth ball but the sixth, a friendly long-hop, he deposited in the car-park to tie the scores.

What a pity cricket is “so boring”. It is difficult to imagine a more exciting finish. The boys were jubilant and a difficult day of late arrivals, ferrying of equipment, delays and frustrations became highly memorable.

 

U15 A V Bishop’s Stortford College

Result: Won by 77 runs 

Felsted 161-8 (30 overs) (T. Kingham 61 not out, H. Brooke 48)

BSC 84 all out (25 overs) (F. Burns 2 for 5, O. Grayson 2 for 9) 

Finally some cricket!  The season got underway belatedly on a sunny afternoon at Bishop's Stortford College yesterday.  The pitch was very soft, and it was a good toss to win, but unfortunately we did not, and had to bat first in a 30 over game.  With a slump to 21-3, we looked under pressure, but very intelligent batting from Harry Brooke (48) and Tom Kingham (61 not out), adding 73 for the 4th wicket, put us back in the game.  Just as our momentum was falling away, with a flurry of wickets (127-8), Will Jackson came out and played a superb cameo innings of 20 not out, helping Tom Kingham to add 34 in the last three and a half overs.  A total of 161 was very good on a difficult surface, although it was getting easier, and one boundary was quite short.

The BSC reply began brightly, moving to 16-0 in 3 overs, and we looked tense, bowling too short for the slow pitch.  A really good return catch by Charlie Duke got rid of their real danger man, and this was followed by a wicket for Harry Brooke.  A small partnership saw them move to 47 for 2, before Freddie Burns (the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 5 in 4 overs) and Tom Kingham took out the middle order.  It was left to the spin 'triplets' of Max Malins (1 for 14), Ollie Grayson (2 for 9) and Tom Latham (1 for 2) to clear up the rest, and bring what was in the end a comfortable victory.  The fielding was very encouraging, with all catches taken bar one very tough chance, and a direct hit run out as well.

Tom Kingham was man of the match for his superb innings under pressure, and a good spell of bowling.  Oundle this Saturday will be much tougher, of course, but it was just good to get a game in outside.  On Saturday, we are due to be on the Front, but with it looking likely that the 1st XI will be moved here, rather than away at Oundle, because they are so wet, we will be on one of the out grounds, 2.15pm start.  They are a team worth watching - positive, but fighting with the bat, variety with the ball, and athletic in the field - there are a lot of things to improve on, but this was a very good start to the season (at last!).

Player of the match: Tom Kingham

   

U14 A v Bishop's Stortford College

Result: Won by 4 wickets
Review: BSC 149-3 (30 overs), Felsted 150-6 (26.2 overs).

A quick drying ground and a small window of sun allowed the U14 A’s their first outing of the season away at Bishops Stortford College. Winning the toss the Felsted captain, Henry Hoare, unsurprisingly invited the opposition to bat on what looked a slow, green wicket.

Ashleigh Cox opened the bowling with excellent accuracy, putting the batsmen under early pressure. To their credit the BSC batters played watchfully, punishing anything short of a length. The lack of match practice showed as the rest of the pace attack provided too many scoring opportunities which allowed BSC to race to fifty off 9 overs. The game changed as spinners Henry Hoare and Alex Gilham were brought on in tandem putting the pressure back on the College batsmen. The tight spell produced two quick wickets as BSC attempted to up the tempo against the ‘spin-twins’. Although only one more wicket was to fall, both bowling and fielding remained disciplined to limit BSC to 149-3 (30 overs).

Albeit slow, the wicket was playing better than expected. This gave our batters confidence in chasing down the competitive target. The instruction was to be positive and James Lennon did not disappoint, dispatching the ball to all parts for a breezy 31. When his wicket fell with the score on 50 a more considered approach was taken by the more experienced players. Henry Hoare and Ashleigh Cox moved the score onto 94 before the latter was dismissed by a superb catch. The BSC fielder is probably still icing his hand!  

This partnership put Felsted into a winning position, needing just 56 off the final 15 overs with 8 wickets in hand. Some lusty blows by Alex Jackson and John Brodie in the middle order brought the victory within touching distance. Henry Hoare then proceeded to nurse the nervy lower-middle order over the line, carrying his bat for 60*. A very positive start to the season and with any luck the rain will stay away long enough for us to build on the victory.

Player of the match: Henry Hoare



   

1st XI v Bishop's Stortford College

Result: Lost by 8 wickets

Review: The rain subsided enough for the 1st XI to swap the home fixture with BSC to away, where thanks must go to the groundsman for getting a pitch available. It was not the best surface for cricket, but it was the first game of the school season after the win pre-season at Malvern College.

Inserted, Felsted got out the traps quickly with Wells dominating the attack before he fell to the first excellent catch of the day. The innings then stalled with sound bowling and naive batting. The top order batted waiting for the four ball that never arrived and gave the initiative to the BSC attack who steadily took wickets. Griggs added some momentum with some classy shots and Foley with 28 from 11 allowed the team to finish on 159-9 which was about par.

Felsted bowled with early discipline and although wickets were not falling, the rate was rising. However, the two batsman got set and Felsted lost there nerve first and spread the field. This allowed regular scoring and the game slipped away in the latter overs. The side were left to ponder over a few decisions in the field that released the pressure on the opposition who deserved the victory. This was the first loss to BSC in memory.