A good weekend for cricket

With cup success for the girls 1st XI, and some remarkable performances across the board, Match Day on Saturday was memorable.

The girls 1st XI travelled to Malvern for Round 3 of the National Schools Twenty20 competition. After losing out to Malvern in the national quarterfinals in 2019, this was a match they were really up for. This match was also special, as the club had four sisters playing in the same team – one better than last year when three of them played together for the first time. Imogen (U6), Clara (L6), Sasha (F4) and Cate (F3), all from Sanderson, also play for Northants CCC.

Clara got the match off to a good start, scoring 51 opening the batting with Sasha and Cate chipping in with 10 runs apiece, unfortunately a rare failure from Imogen who has been our leading run scorer and most consistent batter to date. An important 40 runs partnership, from Avery (D) with 18, and Third Form debutant Cecilly (W) with 17, got us up to a competitive score of 139-8.

A wicket in the first over from Sasha who finished with 4 overs-1 wicket-9 runs, was backed up by some tight bowling from Evie (L) (3-2-6), Ellie (L) (4-1-18), Clara (3-1-8), Sophie W (Sn) (1-1-4). Malvern came up short on 97 all out. A fantastic all round performance from our girls who will now face Wymondham in the next round on Saturday with only 14 schools remaining in the competition.

In other matches, there were some fine team and individual performances. In the 1st XI, Will (L) and Ralph (StA) piled on the runs in a brilliant 224 run partnership. Coming together at 13-2, the pressure was on, but with great maturity Will and Ralph added to the score with good intent and decision-making. This was made even more impressive by the fact that Ralph is still only in the Fourth Form. Park eventually fell for a well-made 122, whilst Ralph tragically had his innings curtailed by a dubious caught behind on 98. Undoubtedly, there will be more opportunities to get across the line for the 15-year-old.

The 1st XI finished on 268-5, and in response Kimbolton could only muster 45 runs, in what was a ruthless display by the bowlers. George (Ldr) 4-9 was the pick of the bowlers.

Meanwhile at home in the 2nd XI, Oliver (StA) scored a well-made 100* in a total of 303 in 35 overs. With Marcus M. (L), the skillful leg spinner backing him up, claiming 5-25 in another commanding victory.

In the 15B, another one of our promising leg spinners, Kit (B) had a week to remember. Having taken 5-15 in a victory against Nottingham High School midweek, he backed this up with 4-9 and 30* against Kimbolton to almost single handily down the opposition. With figures of 9-23 in the week, it was quite some week for Kit.

In the 14B, there was another milestone to remember for Freddie Insch (S) who claimed 5-15 in another solid bowling display from Oundle who defended the school 169-4 fairly comfortably.