Cricket Report for the Academic Year 2008-9

Cricket Tour to South Africa

The 1st XI cricket squad toured South Africa at the beginning of the Easter holidays in preparation for the coming season. In hot conditions, the squad were excellent ambassadors for the College, and the standard of cricket they played improved dramatically as the tour went on.

Wins against Edgemead School, the Langa township and, most impressively Western Province Cricket Club gave good impetus for the season, and there were some impressive individual performances, notably from Harry Clark (50 against Langa), Josh Higgins (55 against Langa), James Howard (47 against Western Province) and Henry Sims (51 against the Paul Phillipson XI). On the bowling front, Josh Higgins and Abi Sakande impressed with their new ball partnership, putting many opening batsmen under pressure; and Jason Hong, Harry Clark and Alan Taffinder supported well and took wickets.

On Saturday 17 April, the 1st team played Christ's Hospital in their first match of the home season at Ardingly. After a brisk start from Dollery (19) and Clark (51), James Howard (60) and Josh Higgins (44) pushed the score on well with a powerful display of batting. Ably supported by Jack Bowman (30), the team posted 241 for 9 off of their 50 overs of batting. Christ's response was diminished by an awesome spell of bowling from Higgins (6-35) and some stunning bowling and catching from Hong

(3-17). Ardingly eventually ran out as winners by 85 runs.