Eton of England vs Bishops of South Africa: Two great schools clash on the cricket field
Two great schools, Eton of England and Bishops of South Africa – more specifically, the old boys thereof – have met for a game of cricket.
Match report by Oliver Cunningham, member of the victorious Bishops Old Diocesans team
Last weekend saw two great schools, Eton of England and Bishops of South Africa – more specifically, the old boys thereof – meet for a game of cricket at the historic Sheffield Park Gardens in Sussex.
For those who don’t know, Lord Sheffield was one of cricket’s great benefactors, sponsoring the England XI for many years, a team that included such legends as WG Grace and George Lohmann (who is himself buried at Matjiesfontein).
Under Lord Sheffield’s patronage England hosted touring national teams from Australia, South Africa and India.
Australia’s famous Sheffield Shield is named for him.
Old Diocesans batted first on a bright, cloudless day.
Old Etonians gave their new ball to crafty Wigan, a master of line, length and deviation, and pacy Shuttleworth, who worked up a head of steam.
He produced a stunning delivery to knock over Pickering, the Bishops captain, and the Capetonians soon found themselves 37/3.
Cunningham and Campleman then joined hands for an excellent partnership of 98 at a run rate of 7, some very elegant boundaries a feature of their knock.
135/3 became 180/8 as the Windsorians came back into the game, before Arnold and Robinson finished the innings with a second flurry of boundaries, taking Bishops to 225/8 off 35 overs.
Old Etonians started their dig smartly, moving to 38/0 in five overs before Durrant and Jones made the breakthrough with a (Taylor) swift one-two.
Thereafter, Bishops chipped away regularly, disciplined lines and lengths producing seven clean bowleds, one LBW and one smartly-pouched catch off a lofted straight drive, all framed by some very astute captaincy and field positioning by Pickering.
It seems that every great South African team has to produce a run out at some point, and so it was, Eton losing their 10th wicket on 140.
Thereafter the teams enjoyed cold beers and a classic South African braai, biltong and boerewors filling bellies and buffering bilateral relations between two brilliant schools representing two of the world’s best countries.
Even before the inaugural trophy had been engraved, next year’s fixture was already booked in.
Any other schools wishing to get involved, adding an old boys (and/or girls) team to the mix, are invited to send an email to info@sapeople.com
Match summary: Bishops 225/8 off 35 overs (N. Cunningham 56, Campleman 51, Arnold 33*, Robinson 29*, Bruce 3/12) beat Eton 140 all out (Hines 35, Sclater 31, N. Cunningham 3/12, O. Cunningham 2/6) by 85 runs
