Mike Payne writes: After our 2014 triumph in the Cricketer Cup, when we won the Final, this year our defence began with a remarkable victory at Tonbridge and ended with a close but very disappointing defeat at Eton.
In the first round we successfully chased a Tonbridge total of 301 for 7, thanks to quite outstanding innings by Alan Cope (133 not out) and Michael Burgess (77). As Martin Williamson wrote in his website report, “Modern sport is littered with hyperbole, but the three-wicket win must rank as one of the best in the club’s 125-year history and Alan Cope’s unbeaten 133 as one of the best innings”.
But then at Eton our opponents won by 2 wickets, when in a 48-over match they overtook our total of 220 after being 198-8.
[As I write, we are half way through our Cricket Week when we play eight matches, seven of them on Jubilee. I must add that yesterday I watched Michael Burgess score the fastest ever OCCC hundred when he reached his century in 44 balls and finally 131 off 75 balls! Michael and Bradley Scriven, with 336 needed to win, put on 199 for the first wicket, Bradley scored his century too, and we won by six wickets. ]