Charterhouse Cricket Tour to South Africa

 

Charterhouse School left Heathrow on the 7th December for a two and a half week trip. The tour would incorporate a festival at Bishops School, followed by a trip down the garden route to play three games against various teams, ending up in Knysna. The results on the whole were very encouraging and should set the 1st X1 up for a good summer, certainly the experience will help develop their cricket. From a predictable slow start to the tour the boys improved as the tour went on. Overall Charterhouse won 3, lost 3, drew 1 and also had a thrilling tie. We had excellent hospitality throughout and it is hoped a similar tour can take place again.

 

Game 1. Friendly 50 over match.

 

Pinelands School 231 all out. C Smith 5-35

Charterhouse 195 all out.

 

After losing the toss we bowled well in the early part of the innings to restrict Pinelands to 60-4, however, dropped catches and some poor bowling in the middle of the innings let them get away. It took a really good effort to restrict them to 231, Charlie Smith the pick of the bowlers with 5-35.

 

The Charterhouse reply started quite well but lost three wickets before Hall and Pike mounted a good recovery, this was undone with the introduction of spin and some poor batting led to us being bowled out for 195. Beddows and Adolphus striking the ball well at the end of the innings to restore some respectability to the score.

 

Game 2. Match 1 of Festival

 

Charterhouse 185 all out. O Pike 50

Bergvliet School 108 all out.

 

Won the toss on a slow low wicket and benefited from a solid start from Cussins and Pike, Pike going on to make 50. Another middle order collapse was prevented from going any further by sensible batting from Hall, 50. A cluster of wickets near the end resulted in the score of 185 being achieved. A good score on the pitch we thought.

 

The bowling performance was much improved on the day before and wickets for Adolphus, 4 and R Proctor, 3 reduced Berglivet to 108 all out. A very good performance in the field, and a good start to the Festival.

 

Game 3. Match 2 of Festival

 

Wynberg School 160 all out

Charterhouse 161-9

 

After winning the toss and bowling, the strong Wynberg School got off to a very good start before Tucker and Chandler applied the brakes with some very effective bowling, Tucker with 4-31 being the pick of the bowlers.

 

The response from Charterhouse got off to a very good start and after 7 overs the score stood at 48-1. However, another batting collapse left us at 103-7 and the game slipping away. Adolphus, Ellis and Digby Don batted very sensibly to take us within hitting distance of a win, and a beautifully struck 6 from Ellis ensured the win was achieved by 1 wicket.

 

Game 4. Match 3 of Festival

 

Charterhouse 134 all out

Bishops 135 – 4

 

Put in on a damp wicket and excellent bowling reduced us to 70-7 before Adolphus and Beddows again restored some respectability to the scoreline with a very good stand of 60.

 

We bowled well enough but 134 was never going to be enough against a strong Bishops side.

 

Game 5. Match 4 of Festival

 

Windhoek 282-8

Charterhouse 192-9 Clinton 67

 

Lost the toss on a very hot day and toiled manfully in stifling conditions, the last ten overs cost 90 runs to provide a mountain to climb for the batters if we were to win the game. Adolphus getting through an immense number of overs to take 4-87.

 

The batting display was very mixed. 4 run outs in the first 5 dismissals prevented any sort of a run chase, but excellent batting from Clinton, 67, followed by resolute defending from Beddows and Adolphus saved the game with the last wicket pair seeing off the final couple of balls of the match. A very good game and a good set of Festival results on the whole.

 

Game 6. 50 over match v Union Stars U18, Oudtshoorn

 

Union Stars 180 all out

Charterhouse 160 all out

 

Another lost toss and with another very slow outfield boundaries were at a premium. Good bowling from Doggart put us in a good position before some late hitting meant that 180 was going to be a hard chase.

 

A very good start from Pike and Walker put us in with a really good chance of winning, however, another collapse against some straight, but non threatening bowling meant that not even a good partnership between Adolphus and Henry Don could rescue the day. A game we really should have won.

 

Game 7. 45 over match v Mossel Bay cricket club.

 

Charterhouse 179 all out. Walker 46

Mossel Bay 179 all out. Tucker 4-30

 

Walker 46, supported by Adolphus 24, and late hitting from Charlie Smith 27 n.o, ensured a respectable score against much older and experienced opposition.

 

Tucker, with 4-30 reduced Mossel Bay to 65-4 with seemingly little to come in the batting department. It appeared that the number 7 had other ideas, and with support from around him took them to the brink of victory. It was however, Charlie Smith’s late introduction into the attack that forced the game to be a tie, bowling the last man to ensure the honours were shared. A thrilling see saw of a game.

 

Game 8. 50 over match v Knysna Sports School.

 

Charterhouse 135 all out

Knysna 69 all out. J Procter 4-14, Smith 4-2

 

A woeful batting performance against a very young bowling line up, saved only by a last wicket stand of 30 between J Procter and D Don.

 

J Procter finally found his best form with Doggart supporting well the other end meant the tour finished on a high, the young batting line up being swept away before Charlie Smith applied the finishing touch with the incredible figures of 4-2! The best bowling performance of the tour.

 

Summary

 

Overall a good performance considering we were coming out of an English winter with very little practice. Most of the players contributed something to the tour, the pitches were generally low and slow and tough to score on, hence the low averages of the batters. The bowlers all performed pretty well on the whole with some excellent performances. The fielding on the whole was fairly average and work is needed to turn them into a decent unit in the field. I am anticipating a strong team representing the School this year, and even better the following year.

 

I would also like to thank Bob Noble for his excellent management of the tour, and Richard Lewis and Ed How for their coaching and contributions.

 

Martin Bicknell