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It was a difficult Saturday for SPS cricket with our teams failing to win a single fixture against very strong Merchant Taylors’ sides, but our players acquitted themselves well in difficult circumstances.

Our senior teams were all severely depleted with all but one 6th former, and many U8th choosing to opt out of playing to focus on revision. A new look and inexperienced 1st XI punched well above their weight and nearly pulled off a remarkable victory against a full strength Merchant Taylor’s XI, which included two players who had played for Middlesex CCC 2nd XI. After a top order batting collapse, sensible batting from S. Jones on debut (52 runs) and D. Pandey (42) ensured we posted a competitive total in the first innings. An all round team performance in the field with F. de Mestre the pick of the bowlers (3-44 off 10) ensured the opposition had to fight for every run, and they only just squeaked over the line with 7 wickets down. To push such a side so close, with many of our regular players unavailable, was a remarkable achievement, and Dr Langley and Mr Briers are both hugely proud of the team. The 2nd and 3rd XIs both lost away from home against very strong sides. Credit should definitely go to Dev Patel who scored 32 runs and was the only 6th former representing the School this last Saturday. Our junior sides also lost but all played to their highest standards. In the U15As L. Shikder scored 29 not out, while in the U15Bs B.Russel Fraser took 4-21. In a remarkable U15C team match, the opposition posted 205-5 in 25 overs which we only narrowly failed to chase down, losing by just 6 runs. Thanks to Mr Wheatley for standing in to coach the side this Saturday. The U14As lost to a very strong side but Ridmeet Puri impressed with the bat scoring 74 runs, while in the U14Cs R. Kaur scored 44 not out. Earlier in the week our U14Bs and U14Cs played Westminster’s U14As and U14Bs securing wins in both matches with V. Kurup taking 4-14 for the Bs, and R. Kaur 4-6 for the Cs. Our U15Bs lost a very close game to Westminster’s U15As by just 15 runs. This coming Saturday we have a block fixture against Trinity Croydon with the U14 second round cup match on Tuesday.

Written by Alex Langley, Head of Cricket and Teacher of Biology