Schools

In what is probably a record for schools’ 50-over cricket, Jos Buttler, captain of King’s College, Taunton, scored 227 from 176 balls in an opening partnership of 340 together with Alex Barrow who scored 95 (Douglas Henderson writes). King’s School, Bruton, understandably shaken by the massive target of 342 for one, were unable to respond in kind and were bowled out for 65.

Jonathan Bairstow (son of the late David) was the first winner of Wisden’s new Young Wisden Schools’ Cricketer of the Year trophy, presented by Mike Brearley (President of MCC) at the recent dinner to launch Wisden 2008. He has already started the new season in style, scoring 139 not out for St Peter’s, York, in an unbeaten stand of 219, together with James Hepworth (103 not out) to defeat The Yorkshire Gentlemen. The visitors had set them the formidable early-season target of 265 for three declared, with Tim Peet - a recent Old Boy - scoring 123.

Travis Hussain (nephew of Nasser) scored his maiden century for Felsted (127 not out) against The King's School, Canterbury and captain Sam Weller scored his maiden century (119 not out) in a game that eventually fell foul of the weather. They put on 253 for the 3rd wicket.

After reducing Colfe's to 41 for nine, Bancroft's allowed the last wicket partnership to double the score. After a slow start, Bancroft's openers knocked off the runs in 16 overs. In a remarkable piece of bowling in the under-14 match v Colfe's, Bancroftian Neville Jacob took 5 wickets for 0 runs.

Brother and sister Adam and Jodie Dibble, of Taunton school, clearly have keen competitive matches in their back garden. Adam took six for 12 to bowl out Bristol Grammar School for a modest 43, while Jodie for the prep school took four for six and three for five in the first two games of the season.

At Chigwell, Omar Ahmed came on first change at medium pace and with excellent line and length had the remarkable figures of five for six from seven overs to bowl out the home side for 83, which Colchester RGS knocked off for two wickets.

Another early-season cliff-hanger at Caterham, where Lancing were struggling at 86 for seven. However, their number nine scored 38 not out to get them to 155 for seven in their 40 overs. As the last over began, Caterham needed only one to win, but took five balls to achieve it.

Results:

Felsted 274-2 dec (T Hussain 127 not out, S Weller 119 not out), King's, Canterbury 92-4 (rain)

*Cheltenham 222-7 dec, Radley 54-2 (rain)

Sutton Valence 177-5 (30 overs), *Eltham 129 (T Griffin 5-24)