Old Cranleighans (131-0) beat Old Johnians (130) by ten wickets

(June 23) The OCs cruised to a ten-wicket win over Old Johnians on the Lowers in the first round of the Brewers Cup, exorcising the memory of the thrashing in the competition at the hands of Old Hurstjohnians twelve months earlier.

Walton is bowled by Brown on the stroke of lunch

The result was as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests, and that it was achieved without either Watkinson, Read, Webb, Howard or Gutteridge was a testament to the wholehearted efforts of the side. The Johnians struggled from the off to inject any real momentum into the scoring, hampered by a slow outfield and some outstanding ground fielding by the OCs.

The supposed weakness in the OC bowling actually turned out to be its strength. Tom Hufton, after a wayward first over, bowled with nagging line and length to return career- best figures of 4-35 and Graeme Brown (3-43) also had one of his increasingly rare good days. Eds Copleston even had the luxury of allowing old warhorse Mike Chetwode to graze the afternoon away at long-leg after bowling just seven overs. Until shortly before lunch it was an even contest. Johnians reached 60-2 from 23 overs before Hufton and Brown struck in successive overs and thereafter the bowlers were on top.

No stopping Richard Hume: a second successive fifty

Left to chase a moderate target, Simon Copleston and Richard Hume produced a professional and superbly controlled partnership which made the result a foregone conclusion long before the end. Copleston, after a couple of lean years, looked to be back to his best in a fluent 63 not out while Hume, who failed to get into double figures in 2001, notched his second consecutive fifty for the club.

Eds Copleston said afterwards that he was confident that this side had the ability to go further in the competition. "I am hoping to have a number of other players from the squad available for the next round. Will Howard should be back and he is an asset behind the stumps and the Watkinson brothers will also hopefully be available." But he warned that there would be competition for places. "I am keen to reward those who performed in the first round with a place in the second."

Old Johnians
Goodyear              lbw b Chetwode  23
Keeley                run out         10
Walton                    b Brown     12
Alden                     b Hufton    20
Dialon*            c Hume b Hufton    12
Vosser                    b Brown     21
Hepden                    b Hufton    10
Morton                    b Brown      0
Babb                      b Hufton     4
Balcombe              not out          5
Extras   (b 5, lb 3, w 5)             13 
                (9 wkts, 43.4 overs) 130
							
Fall: 22, 40, 60, 64, 83, 110, 117, 121, 130

Chetwode      7     3     11     1
Evans         8     1     30     0
Hufton       14.4   1     35     4
Brown        14     1     42     3 
				
Old Cranleighans
S Copleston           not out         63
Richard Hume          not out         62
Extras   (b 3, w 2, nb 1)              6
                (0 wkts, 36.4 overs) 131

Babb          8     1     41     0
Goodyear     14.4   1     51     0
Morton       10     2     20     0
Balcombe      2     0     16     0