Match report by David Pimblett (S 81)
Oundle Rovers 105-1 (14.4 overs) beat Repton Pilgrims 103 (40.5 overs) by 9 wickets
The Rovers embarked on their 2022 Cricketer Cup campaign with a convincing win at Oundle on Sunday 12 June. Having won the toss Repton Pilgrims decided to bat on what proved to be a very flat track and made relatively serene progress to 39-0 by the 13th over. Thereafter the Rovers took complete control and at no point looked like losing it.
Patch Foster (St A 05) made the breakthrough and bowled his 10 overs off the reel for 2-19. Then Ben Graves (F 15) started with three maidens and finished with 3-22. Fellow off spinners Will Street (Sc 10) 1-11 off 8 and Tommy Simeons (St A 20) 2-14 ably supported as did Jules McAlpine (Lx 88) who also grabbed a wicket thanks to a second sharp catch behind the stumps by Simon Fernandes (Ldr 18). Skipper Greg Smith (St A 07) set the standard in the field with a superb run out and two catches, one an unbelievable one handed diving/sliding effort.
With no Pilgram progressing beyond 17 a defendable total was not going to happen and 103 (with 9.1 overs unused) was quickly passed as Ben Graves guaranteed the match of the match award of a bottle of Nicholson Gin with an assured run a ball 52 not out with nine boundaries- more than Repton made in total. Meanwhile James Esler (C 19)justified his promotion to opener with a memorably huge blow onto the new Sports Centre roof, the only 6 of the match in his 23 in an opening stand of 73 before George Johansen (F 11) hit the winning boundary in his 15* with over 35 overs to spare.
The 9 wicket win means a trip to play Rugby Meteors on Sunday 26 June in round two at Rugby. Rovers and OO support is strongly encouraged. The Rovers have announced a side with just one change, Tom Bishop (F 10) coming in for the unavailable Ben Graves.
