OCCC 261 for 9 (Cope 89) beat Sherbourne Pilgrims 160 (Waters 4-10) by 101 runs
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A potentially difficult visit to Dorset to face Sherborne was overcome thanks largely to an excellent innings of 89 by Alan Cope and some nagging spin bowling from Jack Scriven and Seren Waters. In a searing hot summer the match was played under leaden skies with a downpour always looming. As it was in stayed hot and humid but dry.
We started cautiously with few alarms on a pitch which provided uneven bounce. Jack Scriven (16) holed out to mid-on after struggling to find his touch and then Seren Waters played an uncharacteristly loose shot to cover to leave us 64 for 2. Cope and Angus Dahl (25) put on 98 for the third wicket, Cope unleashing some sublime pulls and drives, and then found support from Lewis Beford (32) who was aided by some poor catching.
Cope eventually fell leg-before and Bedford was crazily run-out after a mix-up with Nathan Thorpe, after which the innings fell away, with us adding only 48 in the final 10 overs for the loss of five wickets. We ought to have put the match to bed in that time, but as it was we left the door open for Sherborne.
Sherborne’s reply started dismally as they slid to 1 for 2 in eight balls, Elliott Hannah and Scriven striking early blows. Walsh (41) and Cheal (29) then steadied the ship with some aggressive hitting before Walsh holed out to Cope at long-on.
It was the spinners who were always going to pose problems and so it proved was Waters (4 for 10) and Scriven (2 for 29) ended Sherborne’s challenge. Thorpe, who took an outstanding running catch at backward square-leg to remove Cheal, was unlucky not to take a wicket, and it was heartening to see Dahl’s legspin return after his serious injury sustained over the winter. He took the final wicket to wrap up a convincing win and set up a quarter-final at home to Eton.
During the course of his innings Waters passed 1000 Cricketer Cup runs for the club. What was also so pleasing was the age of this side. Four were in the Cranleigh XI last summer and only one – the ageing Cope – was over 30 (just). Other than Waters (28) everyone else was 23 or under. The future is bright.
