Peterhouse 1st XI
Peterhouse embarked on its annual cricket tour to the Eastern Cape, RSA on Friday 5 January. In the build-up to the tour, the boys gathered together at the school for a day and a half โblitzโ training camp. The squad comprised of three form 6s, three form 5s, five form 4s, and two under 16s were encouraged to use the tour as a development and learning experience as we knew we had a young side and did not want to heap unnecessary pressure on the team.
Our first game against Pearson High School, played the day after touching down in Port Elizabeth, was a cagey affair with neither side really wanting to take the intiative. Peterhouse bowled well to remove the host for 157, Ryan Moyo the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 29. In response, Peterhouse started their innings with great gusto, Nicholas Anderson leading the way with a classy 62. At 91 for 1 Peterhouse was in complete control of the game, but a flurry of wickets and an obvious lack of experience saw the team bowled out for a disappointing 113. After a word of encouragement from the coaches, the team took to the field again. Ryan Moyo ran through the Pearson batting line up taking 3 for 10 as Peterhouse took the 5 wickets required for only 47 runs. Needing 91 to win the game, Nicholas Anderson batted particularly well again scoring 46 before being run out. Tyler Chapman (25*) proved his perfect foil in this innings and both he and the captain, Sean Bennett saw the team home to a comfortable 4-wicket victory getting the tour off the best possible start.
The second game was played against Woodridge in less-than-ideal conditions. Drizzle meant the game started late and the teams were on and off the field repeatedly throughout the day. Peterhouse bowled well to restrict Woodridge to 194 in 48 overs before being forced off the field, Sean Bennett the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 29 in 10 overs. In response, Peterhosue was set a target of 182 to chase in 43 overs. This was reduced to 161 in 38 overs before being further reduced to 119 in 28 overs. Sean Bennett led the charge with a sublime 55 as Peterhouse cantered over the line 3 wickets down securing the second win in as many games.
The next game was arguably our toughest challenge on tour, not only because we are not used to playing 2-day cricket, but we also played against our arch-rivals and probably the strongest cricketing school in Grahamstown, St Andrews College. Peterhouse won the toss and elected to bat first. Nicholas Anderson batted superbly again scoring 104, the only century scored by a Peterhouse cricketer since we started touring the Eastern Cape 4 years ago. There were several contributions form batters further down the order as the team posted a respectable 275 in their 1st innings. In response, St Andrews batted well to post 297 and secure a 22-run lead. Unfortunately, rain again played its part and teams were forced off the field with Peterhouse in a precarious position at 96/8 with approximately 20 overs still left in the day. The match was declared a draw and Peterhouse marched on, still undefeated.
Our penultimate game on tour was played against Kingswood and after a good start reducing the hosts to 30 for 3, Peterhouse let the ascendancy slip and allowed Kingswood to set a total of 193. On a difficult wicket, the team got off to the worst possible start losing the first 4 wickets for only 37 runs. Tyler Chapman (54) and Rukudzo Midzi (43) then showed some character and fought hard to give the team a fighting chance. Unfortunately, after scoring his half-century, a lapse in concentration saw Tyler Chapman play the first false shot in his innings, and as we know thatโs all it takes in cricket. Thereafter, the team fought hard, but a lack of experience and careless shot selection at times saw the team bowled out for 145.
On to the final game of the tour, and what has become a standard fixture, we played a formidable Graeme College in a 50-over match. Peterhouse won the toss and put Graeme into bat, a decision which soon paid dividends as Graeme was reduced to 35 for 3. Some sloppy fielding and a fatigued bowling display then allowed Graeme back into the game and at tea, they found themselves 121 for 3. Again the coaches were called into play, and after some words of encouragement and inspired bowling plans, the team wrestled back the ascendancy and fought hard to remove Graeme for 199. Nicholas Anderson and Tyler Chapman got the team off to the perfect start with a 50-run opening stand, but unfortunately, the team lost wickets at regular intervals and before we knew it the game was hanging in the balance when Peterhouse lost Sean Bennett with the score on 147 and only 4 wickets left in the innings. Ryan Moyo (44*) then played one of the most mature innings I have seen from a 15-year-old to steer the team home to a 1-wicket victory after losing a flurry of wickets when we needed less than a run an over.
It goes without saying that this was a successful tour. The team excelled and achieved more success on tour than we could have ever anticipated. I was proud of the way that the team came together and it is evident that special bonds have been formed that will hold them in good stead as we move into the regular season. Special thanks must go to the unwavering support we received from the parents who joined us on tour and messages of encouragement from those at home. The boys answered many questions and showed some gutsy character on tour as well as developed and improved their skill set. I must say I am excited about the future of Peterhouse Cricket and look forward to watching this team continue to grow in 2024.
Andrew Durham