Cricket (Match 3) v Combined Schools

After two losses before the weekend, the cricket squad were hoping that a relaxing day on the catamaran would help them towards a first victory on tour. Again our opposition was a Combined Antiguan school team who looked strong during their pre match warm up. 

Captain Harry Ibbitson lost the toss and so with the home team keen for a bat in the midday heat, the Shiplake team prepared to bowl and field in searing heat. Again they struggled with the ball and conceded a number of leg side wides. They did pick up wickets though with early scalps for Alex Bradley and Tom McCooke. The opposition captain and best player then combined to score at a rapid rate, both with scores in the 60s. Their best player, Joseph Ansari, is a West Indies U19 player and struck several huge sixes in his brief innings (61 off 31 balls) before being dismissed lbw by Harry. Two further wickets fell and the home team finished on 208-5.

Joseph Ansari opened the bowling with extreme pace at a speed none of the Shiplake batsmen could deal with. That said, despite losing opener Ben Arnold in the 5th over, Callum Boyd and Harry survived the onslaught. Callum played carefully for his 24 and Harry well for his 15. After this the oppostion proved too strong with Shiplake limping to 116 all out in the final over to lose by 92 runs.

A disappointing result against a significantly stronger opposition. The final game of tour is today against another combined schools team, but it will be played at the Sir Viv Richards stadium- a new purpose built international stadium where England played 3 T20 matches last month.  A quiet, soft drinks only, night for the squad in preparation is on the cards!