MATCH REPORT Cricketer Cup Quarter-Final - Old Malvernians v Shrewsbury Saracens

The Saracens travelled to Malvern last Sunday for their first quarter-final tie in 7 years. James Taylor was unavailable owing to Nottinghamshire Outlaws commitments, which may have accounted for the rather sparse OS crowd, which numbered no more than 2 or 3 (but did include former head of school Patrick Duncan in his new capacity as Team Doctor having recently completed his medicine degree). Ben Williams was also unavailable, and a heel injury deprived the Sarries of the services of Mike Barnard. In his place Matt McKeever returned to the side and he was joined by two recent leavers, Steve Leach and Henry Lewis, who both made their Cricketer Cup debuts. Also making his seasonal debut was the President, and how nice it was to see him too.

Given the swollen level of the river Severn (there were unconfirmed sightings of the President's yacht moored to a lamppost), it was remarkable that play started on time, and huge credit must go to the Malvern groundstaff for their efforts throughout the week to get the game on.The understandably was damp, and upon winning the toss the Sarries skipper didn't have to think long before inviting the OMs to have a bat. Joe Leach shared the new ball with Steve Barnard, and both men made life difficult for the OM opening batsmen. Barnard was bowling quickly, and took the first wicket of the day with a big off cutter which the OM opener will, with hindsight, probably regret leaving. Leach removed the other opener with a ball that also seamed, reducing the OMs to 26-2. The OM number 3 and 4 then began to build a partnership,and moved the score on to 43-2 in the 14th . Steve Barnard was by this stage in his 7th over, but working up a good (ginger) head of steam. He cleaned up the OM number 3, and followed this up a couple of overs later with another beauty to bowl ex Notts batsman Wileman. This wicket brought former Middlesex wicket-keeper David Nash to the crease to join the OM captain Will Gifford. Steve really had the bit between his teeth at this stage, and after a succession of fine fast deliveries that beat the bat on either side he found the outside edge of Nash's bat, and the edge was gratefully held by Jack Brydon behind the stumps. The OMs were reeling at 64-5, and Barnard finished with superb figures of 4-31 - his spell was later described by Nash as the best he had seen in 5 years. He clearly hadn't seen Steve's excellent performances in the Harry Potter films.

The Sarries, sensing blood, were on a roll, and in no mood to let this superb start slip. Scott Corbett shored up one end, and at the other James Kidson began to go through his repertoire of variations. They were aided and abetted by some excellent catching, the highlight of which was a superb grab diving forwards from debutant Lewis; there are a few Sarries who in the same situation would have been pleased to stop 1! Captain Gifford was last out, held at long on for 30 as the innings closed on 102 in the 34th over.

The OM innings was over so quickly that the Sarries were soon back out in the middle for a nasty 30 minute session before lunch. Blofield was unlucky to fall to a good that popped off the surface for 11, but Ben Chapman and Steve Leach ensured that we lunched at 28-1. Leach fell soon after the resumption (34-2), but Chapman was in superb form, punishing the bad ball time and again. He was joined by Joe Leach, and together they took the total up to 85-2. Chapman finally fell, for an excellent 46. Given the quality of the innings the less said about the dismissal the better, although it must be added that his eyes have only previously been seen to light up like that around mealtimes or upon the arrival of a new gap-year student at his prep-school. It was thus left to the captain and Leach to see the Sarries home without further alarm to a fine 7 wicket victory in the 33rd over.

It was a fine victory, and a prized one - the OMs have won the competition the past two years, and were unbeaten at home for the previous 6. The Sarries will go into the semi-final, vs the Bradfield Waifs on 29 July, full of confidence.

Scorecard Summary:

Old Malvernians 102 All Out (33.3 overs) S Barnard 10-0-31-4, Kidson 4.3-1-6-3. Corbett 6-3-10-2

Shrewsbury Saracens 103-3 (32.2 overs) Ben Chapman 46