The long-awaited sound of leather on willow returned to the Home Ground on Friday 25th April, when Brighton College hosted not one, but two visiting sides of Old Brightonian cricketers.
First up, the Girls’ 1st XI had the honour of batting first in the first game on the Home Ground since 2017, when they entertained a women’s OB side captained by Imogen Jenner (Fe. 2017-21).
The OB side also included: Jenna Duffield (CR. 2010 to present), keeping wicket), Mirry Jackson (Se. 2007 – 20), Olivia Jenner (Fe. 2013 – 18), Evie Page (Se. 2015 – 22), Jess Sparham (Se. 2011 – 21), El Swainston (Se. 2019 – 21) and Maisie Taylor (Fe. 2019 – 24).
Each side was asked to bowl a maximum of one hundred deliveries, which were played out in glorious sunshine. Tight bowling lines restricted the Girls' XI batting, before some great hitting saw the OBs ultimately claim victory as they successfully chased the Girls’ XI total with eighteen balls to spare. Player of the Match went to OB Olivia Jenner who recorded her first ever Five-Fer, which also included being on a hat-trick at one point.
One other highlight was also the sight of Immy Jenner snaffling a catch off the bowling of her sister Olivia Jenner’s bowling, to take a vital wicket, maintain sibling harmony and give the scorer extra pause for thought!
The Boys XI took the field just after 5pm, with the skies darkening a little, but the crowd that had gathered stayed to watch another brilliant match.
The Men’s OB side included: Alastair Connelly (Du. 2020 – 22), Alex Bushell (Le. 2014 – 19), Charlie Woodage (Sc. 2018 – 23), Dan Lategan (Sc. 2022 – 24), George Swallow (Ab. 2015 – 22), Harry Streak (Du. 2022 – 23), Jake Humby (Al. 2018 – 23), Ravi Jadav (Ha. 2007 – 22), Toby Samrah (Le. 2018 – 23) and captain Will Wright (Le. 2011 – 2016).
Will Wright said, “This was an experience that essentially none of the Old Brightonians side had had and there was a clear desire to make up for lost time. This was a team full of youth and this became evident in the fielding display whereby bodies were thrown in front of every ball possible. Particular note should be given to the Swallow’s elegant dives, Connolly and Lategan’s dogged hustle within the offside ring, and the Jadav artillery being unloaded from the boundary.”
Set 132 to win by some excellent batting by the Boys’ 1st XI however, the OBs always faced an uphill struggle.
Will Wright said, “Wickets fell in clusters, but as the elder statesmen of the team, Alex Bushell and I dug in to take the match deep with some hard running and the occasional half dozen. But with a six needed off the final ball of the innings to tie the match the OBs fell marginally short!
Head of Cricket, Mr Davis said, “Both the Boys and Girls 1st XI's acquitted themselves incredibly well and put on a fantastic spectacle.”
Are you interested in getting involved in OB Sport, either as a player, or as a spectator? Email ob@brightoncollege.net for more information.