LICHFIELD, Church Times Cricket Cup finalists in four of the past six seasons (and winners once), have lost none of their polish, winning each of their two matches by nine wickets.
Playing at Tamworth CC on Monday, Peterborough elected to bat. Tight bowling by the Lichfield team meant that they struggled to score, and sat at 21 for 2 after 15 overs. Reeve, bowling for Lichfield, was particularly ungenerous, conceding just 11 runs in his 8 overs.
But stern resistance by Jefferson (36), and more expansive hitting by Byfield (19) and Youngerman (27 not out) took the score past 100 and Peterborough finished their 40 overs on 113 for 4. Taylor took two wickets.
In reply, Lichfield made light of the target, scoring 115 for 1 in 17.5 overs. Hack scored an elegant 38, and Taylor was 54 not out at the close.
It had been a similar story at Ragley Hall the previous week. Coventry chose to bat, and were all out for 76 after 26 overs. This time Reeve conceded 32 runs, but balanced that by taking 3 wickets. Hemming picked up 2 more at a cost of just 6 runs. Parker (21) and Pickersgill (20) were Coventry’s top scorers.
In reply, Lichfield made 79 in 22 overs. Cranston made 33 and Lefroy 23 not out. Gandon took the only wicket.
St Albans has found good form in recent seasons, but failed to do so against a strong Southwark side. Southwark batted first, and Aagaard and O’Brien laid firm foundations with an 82-run opening partnership. At the other end of the innings, Stanier got a half-century. In reply, St Albans struggled against the new ball bowling of Daley. Lockley threatened to break free with some powerful drives, but he was dismissed by Ridsdill-Smith, who destroyed the St Albans middle order with three wickets in five balls, and their chase subsided. Southwark won by 144 runs.
London reported an enjoyable game against the newly formed Chelmsford, pulled together by James Knowles, an assistant curate in High Ongar. London perhaps enjoyed it the most, running out winners by 143 runs.
London won the toss and decided to bat. In decent batting conditions they made 231 for 5. Rylands was the top scorer with 79, and Moffatt made 54; Grey took 3 wickets.
In reply, Chelmsford found things hard going as the cloud came over and the drizzle started. Knowles and Grey both made it into double figures, but Chelmsford were all out for 70. Allerton was the pick of the London bowlers, taking 4 for 15 in his 8 overs.
A congested M25 and the threat of rain shortened the Guildford v. Canterbury match to 35 overs apiece. Canterbury batted first and the openers Muthalaly and McDougall made a steady start. Later, Emslie (42) and Jennings (21 not out) had a good stand, taking the final score to 109 for 7. Guildford field six bowlers: Watson took 3 for 20, Newton 2 for 16, and J. Thomas 2 for 33.
Guildford reached Canterbury’s total with four overs to spare, losing five wickets along the way. Watson scored 23, Matt Prior was 24 not out, and M. Thomas 22 not out. Canterbury’s star bowler was Sutcliffe taking 4 for 23 in seven overs.
Rain did more than threaten for the game between Liverpool and Manchester. Two sides agreed to play 20 overs each, and Liverpool reached 83 for 6. Birch was top scorer with 26; Manchester’s bowlers got one wicket apiece.
The rain started to fall at the start of the Manchester innings, but they batted on, reaching 85 for 2 in the 17th over. Lindop scored 26, Hills was 24 not out.
Peterborough 113 for 4 (Jefferson 36, Youngerman 27 n.o.; Taylor 2 for 28). Lichfield 115 for 1 (Taylor 54 n.o., Hack 38; Byfield 1 for 20). Lichfield won by 9 wickets.
Coventry 76 all out (Parker 21, Pickersgill 20; Reeve 3 for 32, Hemming 2 for 6). Lichfield 79 for 1 (Cranston 33, Lefroy 23 n.o.; Gandon 1 for 14). Lichfield won by 9 wickets.
Southwark 205 for 3 (Stanier 58 n.o., Aagaard 53, O’Brien 47.) St Albans 61 all out (Lockley 27; Ridsdill-Smith 4 for 15, Daley 2 for 5). Southwark won by 144 runs.
London 213 for 5 (Rylands 79, Moffat 54; Grey 3 for 48). Chelmsford 70 all out (Knowles 15, Grey 11; Allerton 4 for 15, Watkins 2 for 14). London won by 143 runs.
Canterbury 109 for 7 (Emslie 42, Jennings 21 n.o.; Watson 3 for 20, Newton 2 for 16, J Thomas 2 for 33). Guildford 110 for 5 (Prior 24 n.o., Watson 23, Thomas 22 n.o.; Sutcliffe 4 for 23). Guildford won by 5 wickets.
Liverpool 83 for 6 (Birch 26). Manchester 85 for 2 (Lindop 26, Hills 24 n.o.). Manchester won by 8 wickets.