Soham Grammar School Summer 1971
Cricket - Interim Report
First XI
We have started the 1971 cricket season with a side consisting of eleven players who have had some First XI experience and led by two very able performers in King and Cox. Our early performances have, however, fallen a little short of our expectations and in our first three matches we have suffered two defeats and gained one victory.
At Bury, having had half the opposing side out for only 17 runs, we then allowed the remaining batsmen to achieve the respectable score of 90. In reply the School made 83. At Ramsey we were happy to limit the Abbey School to 101, but unfortunately our batting could not cope with the fast and accurate bowling of our opponents and we were dismissed for a paltry 29 runs - our lowest score for at least two seasons!
In the home match against our old rivals Newport GS, we struck what might reasonably be considered as our true form. Newport batted first and struggled for 2½ hours before they eventually declared at 107 for 9. With less than two hours in which to get the runs the School batsmen rose to the occasion and passed the Newport total off the fifth ball of the last over for the loss of only five wickets.
Outstanding features of the School play to date are the bowling of Martin and King and the timely 45 no. of Curtis against Newport. Martin has now blossomed into a very hostile bowler; he keeps a good line and length and is very difficult to score off. His best performances have been 6 for 21 at Bury and 4 for 34 against Newport. King has handled the side intelligently and his spin bowling has had the opposing batsmen in a great deal of trouble. Figures of 6 for 28 at Ramsey and 4 for 47 against Newport are samples of his ability.
Under 15 XI
The Under-15 XI has made an encouraging start to the season. After losing the first match at Bury, they managed an honourable draw against Newport and a sound twowicket victory against Wisbech.
Layer has captained the side very sensibly and has been a fine example with both bat and ball. To date his bowling figures are 6 for 33 at Bury, 5 for 31 against Newport and 3 for 15 against Wisbech, to which can be added an excellent innings of 71 against Newport.
Postscript. Since the writing of the cricket report the School has recorded First XI and Under-15 XI victories against Thetford Grammar School. In the First XI match the Thetford batsmen were confined to the moderate score of 83 for 9, thanks to some sound bowling by R Brown (5 for 32) and King (4 for 35). The School knocked off the required runs in about fifty minutes for the loss of only one wicket. All praise for some forceful batting to King (32 no.), Cox (24 no.) and Curtis (26).
In the Under-15 game the School batted first and made only 59, the bulk of the runs coming from Layer (30). The Thetford side were then bowled out for 53, Layer taking 5 for 21 and Hardiment 3 for 5.
RJH
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last update 1 Dec 2007