1st XI Contest the National Cup

As one journey comes to an end, another one begins...

This year's 1st X1 Boys' Cricket team began their journey back in September 2022, with a winter training programme that allowed for both technical information and freedom to play. 

When the season started in April, none of the players could have realised what they were going to achieve. The early round matches allowed the team to progress with a bye, but then a home-round tie with Daneshill began their real journey.

A solid win resulted in another home tie against the current champions, Taunton. However, some tight bowling and excellent fielding restricted them to 90 runs and, thanks to Digby G and Teddy J, the team won by 4 wickets.

Next up was away to Millfield School - a daunting task, some would say! Yet, once again, tight bowling and great ground fielding restricted the hosts to 112. Some sensible batting from Ed M and Cameron M put the team ahead of the rate and Henry P and Hugo B saw the team home with a ball to spare!

So, next in the great adventure was a trip to York, to see if the Farleigh boys could hold their own against the top Prep schools in the country at Finals day.

Drawn against Caldicott in the semi-final, they surprisingly elected to bat on a green and seaming wicket. With the fielding tight and the bowling accurate, Caldicott did not flow in their innings and were bowled all out for 94, with Cameron M taking 3 for 24 and Teddy J 3 for 19, and Teddy also taking a magnificent catch. 

Skipper, Percy W, made a very positive start and, when he was out, the total chasing was 35 for 1 off 7 overs. Cameron M then went on to make 46 before being bowled, which then left Ed M -27 not out and left Henry P to see the team home with an 8 wicket win. 

So, we were into the final of the National Cup for the first time ever, our opponents being a strong-looking Bedford team. Belief is key in sport, and this Farleigh team has lots of it. However, it was clear from the first ball of the Bedford innings that they were going to post a big score. All of the Bedford team could bat and, despite some valiant efforts in the field, they posted an impressive 174 for 8 in their 25 overs, with Cameron M picking up 4 for 31. So the team talk was straightforward - seven runs per over, be positive and go for it!  Skipper Percy did that, but was out quite quickly.

Three more wickets followed, leaving us 36 for 4 off six overs. However, this game was not over and Ed and Digby put 54 runs in 6 overs and still in the game. But they were both dismissed and the score was now 113 for 7, with seven overs to go.

The belief was still there and Hugo B and Ludo H took the score up to 154 off 22 overs. Alas, wickets were running out and, when Ludo was the last player out, the team were 10 runs short of what would have been an historic day for Farleigh cricket.

As mentioned, one journey ends, another begins and for this team to achieve the runners-up spot in a national competition was an incredible journey to the North and has put Farleigh on the map. Well done, everyone!

Farleigh U12s in Cricket County Cup

On a bright and sunny afternoon, the U12 cricketers travelled to Twyford for their County Cup final. Their earlier victories against PGS and Salesian College culminated in this thrilling decider.

Twyford, as the current holders of the County Cup, were hosting and at stake was a place in the Inter Counties competition for 2024, to represent Hampshire.  

Farleigh won the toss and elected to field. Tight bowling from Ludo H and Ed M prevented Twyford from accelerating at the start of the innings and, thanks to a brilliant Teddy J run out, Twyford were 25 for 3 from 6 overs. Skipper, Cameron M, then produced a hostile spell of bowling that reduce the opposition to 58 for 7. Third change bowlers, Harry H and Ollie F, then bowled very tight and took the final weeks to leave Twyford 68 all out. 

Farleigh began their innings positively but, with Cameron M dismissed cheaply, Twyford saw a chance to get into the game. However, Ed M and Ludo H were not allowing that to happen and knocked off the runs with 14 overs to spare. Ed 25 not out and Ludo an impressive 32 not out. 

So, Farleigh U12s are Cricket County Champions and representing Hampshire next season - a fantastic achievement. 

Simon Gough, Head of Player Development