88
A
fter a highly successful pre-season
including the most fantastic tour of
Sri Lanka, the season proper got
underway with a memorable victory over
Sherborne. Sam Underdown scored a
fluent 50 and was well supported by
Harry Thomas and Liam Redrup. Liam
and William Potter had decent opening
spells and backed this up at the end with
some excellent death bowling, as we won
reasonably comfortably by 35 runs.
Next, one of the biggest matches of the
season, Millfield at home. Batting first, it
was soon backs to the wall as we lost our
top four in next to no time. Matt Richards
then played a fantastic innings, scoring a
match-winning 60. Liam Redrup and Sam
Venn got a couple of early wickets each,
and Calvin Harrison another three - we had
won by 52 runs against our arch-rivals!
Laurence May stole the show against
Bryanston with astonishing figures of 8
for 31. Sam Underdown then batted well
for his 70 as we recorded an eight-wicket
win. Six wickets from Neil Brand helped
us restrict a very strong MCC side to 250,
and we chased well, especially Laurence
May, who batted brilliantly for his matchwinning
87.
After wins against Queen's and the XL
Club (where Rhys Davies hit a
tremendous 117*), the next tough match
was against Blundell's. Liam Redrup
bowled beautifully to take 3 for 34 and
we chased down their 180 to win again
by eight wickets, Laurence May finishing
on 60* and Neil Brand on 58*.
Bowled out for just 150 against Canford,
we fortunately bowled well ourselves and
eventually the pressure got to them as
bowled them out for 120, Neil Brand
finishing with the excellent figures of 7 for
18. Wins against Bristol Grammar School
(Neil Brand 4 for 20) and Monmouth
(Laurence May 78 and Liam Redrup 48)
led to the Filton fixture who compiled a
massive 278. Sam Underdown then
played a match-winning knock of 133* as
we won by just a couple of wickets.
Finally at Clifton, they batted first, Liam
Redrup again the pick of the bowlers,
leaving us 190 to chase. Neil Brand
(78*), Rhys Davies (60*) and Matt
Richards (55) made sure we won by a
comfortable nine wickets - we had
achieved our unbeaten milestone in
regular school fixtures!
But there was more! In the national
Twenty20 competition, we progressed out
of our group thanks to 153 off 60 balls by
Rhys Davies against Wellington, and a
crucial 53 not out by Sam Underdown
against Taunton School. In our round of
16 match against Sherborne we needed a
quick-fire 60 from Rhys Davies to secure
victory, supported by Bertie Preston (32*)
and Neil Brand (30*). We then restricted
Millfield on their home turf to 127 thanks
to great bowling from Liam Redrup and
Samuel Venn, and sensible batting by Neil
Brand and Rhys Davies saw us through.
Victory against Portsmouth Grammar
School would see us through to finals
day! We scored 120 on a very slow
wicket and then just gave it everything in
the field as we bowled them out for 105
(Harry Thomas 3 for 20). Finals day for
the first time in King's cricket history!
Bede's in the semi-final though had an
excellent bowling attack and our batting
didn't really go to plan. A total of 110
unfortunately wasn't quite enough and
they ended up winning by five wickets.
But what an adventure!
We can't thank Mr Lewis enough as he
sacrificed half his summer to help us
achieve what we did, and without his
guidance it wouldn't have happened.
Thanks to Mr Woodman for his input on
the grounds and advice in the changing
room. And lastly to the legendary Mr
Breakwell for waking up at 5.30 every
morning to set up all the pitches and
prepare the most amazing wickets. What
he does is invaluable to King's cricket and
we really appreciate it!
Cricket
1st XI
by Neil Brand
Bertie Preston clips the ball to
leg against Richard Huish