OCCC 217 for 9 (50 overs, Rollings 41*, Scriven 40) lost to Haileybury Hermits 219 for 4 (34.1 overs, Neal 76*, Heath 51) by six wickets
After an excellent win against Marlborough, we were brought back down to earth with a thoroughly dispiriting defeat at the hands of Haileybury Hermits who included England Test and ODI player Sam Billings in their XI.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, the day started steadily with Jack Scriven (40) and Harry Morrogh (53) putting together an opening partnership of 57. Harry and Alex Bovill (29) then took the score to 116 off 27 overs to lay the foundations for an accelerated finish. Once George Ealham had pulled straight to mid wicket at 133for 3 though, the runs completely dried up. In the last 20 overs, during which only 84 runs were scored, only one batsman managed a boundary and we were indebted to Will Rollings (41*) to get us up to 217 for 9 off our 50 overs.
This was never likely to be enough on an excellent Jubilee wicket and against a side not only featuring Billings but other with at least minor counties experience. Lane and Tom Billings (Sam’s cousin and current world Racquets champion) started confidently and put on 42. When Lane (51) was out at 79 for 2 Sam Billings (29) increased the scoring rate including an enormous six onto the roof of the pavilion. The most destructive innings of the day however belonged to Hertfordshire and some time Notts 2nd XI batsman Andrew Neal (76*) who finished things off in a blizzard of boundaries with a knock which lasted 49 balls. We had been defeated by six wickets with almost sixteen overs to spare.
George Ealham in his first game as captain tried hard to make things happen by swapping his bowling around. He also bowled well (2-35) as did Will Rollings (1-39) however, it would have taken something special to win having not made nearly enough runs.
We need to have a rethink about how we approach this competition. We have excellent facilities and hospitality and catering which are the envy of every other school in the competition but we’re not delivering on the pitch.