9 May 2018
The cricket season started with two of the most contrasting weeks. With all but one match washed out on each of the first two block fixtures versus Reading Blue Coat and Stowe, we were able to enjoy some glorious sunshine this weekend against Warwick School.
The 1st XI and Lower School sides started their games in the morning, with the 1st XI winning the toss and electing to bat on a wicket nobody could predict! It was an attritional effort with the bat, finding it difficult to get the slower bowlers away in particular, eventually getting to 126 for 6 in the allocated 40 overs. Despite a few mid-innings scares, the Warwick side achieved the required runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
Playing opposite the 1st XI, the U13A team made a decent start with the ball, but allowed their opponents to get to 119 in their 20 overs. This proved a challenging target, compounded by some tight Warwick bowling in the early overs, the Abingdon boys fell to a final total of 90. The U13Bs restricted Warwick to 96 for the loss of 4 wickets and completed a fine performance, reaching 100 for the loss of just 3 wickets to take the match by 7 wickets.
At Cox’s Field, the U12 sides had the morning start. Both Abingdon sides batted first, with the U12A team making 55 all out and the U12B team 95 for 6. Defending such a low total, the U12A team bowled and fielded incredibly and almost took the spoils in the final few balls with Warwick stumbling over the line for the loss of 9 wickets. With extras leading the way on the scoreboard, the Warwick U12B team managed to complete a 9 wicket win on the adjoining ground.
Through the middle school, the U14 sides travelled to Warwick and the U15s hosted at Cox’s for the afternoon fixtures. The U15As chased down 147 to win by 7 wickets. Oliver Deans (45), Karum Sangha (43) and Eliot Hyman (33), making strong contributions with the bat. The U15Bs had a difficult time with the bat, mustering 59 runs, which Warwick knocked off for the loss of 2 wickets. The U15C team, however, had a great win, chasing down a challenging total of 138.
At Warwick, the U14As had to recover from a very challenging start, losing lots of early wickets, although they did recover to post a target of 83. Warwick managed to achieve this total, but not before the loss of 5 wickets. On the astro turf, the U14Bs were dominant. Smashing 190 for 6 (Ben Dray 61), they then bowled their Warwick counterparts out for just 30 with Ludo Benney taking 3 wickets. The U14C match was an exciting encounter. Chasing 138 to win, the Cs were always in the game, but just well short by 14 runs in a great effort, with Seb Skinner making an impressive 39.
And finally to the main school site, where the 2nds played at War Memorial and the 3rds graced Upper Field at the front of School. Bowling first, the 3rd XI managed to keep Warwick down to 183 for 7 on a fast scoring ground. Pacing the chase perfectly, Jake Sedgwick made 33 and Sam Collins an excellent 70 before selflessly retiring himself, allowing the middle order to take them to 184 and an excellent victory. On War Memorial, Abingdon set their opponents 162 to win, following a fluent 52 from Josh Franklin. Early wickets for Will Ginks and Tom Batchelor meant the Abingdon boys were set for a comfortable victory, however, a strong middle-order partnership kept Warwick very much in the game until a flurry of wickets later on, as the require run rate increased. Warwick eventually fell 19 short on 142 all out.
