The Sixth Form College Farnborough

Farnborough Sixth Form College’s cricket team are celebrating being Hampshire’s finest this week and winning the County Cup in a closely fought game against Alton College.

The Farnborough Students – many of whom also play for local clubs – were crowned champions at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, producing a solid bowling display followed by a superb batting performance.

Farnborough skipper Jon Boukhobza, who previously attended Calthorpe Park School, lost the toss and, in front of significant travelling support, was forced to take the field.

Good bowling and fielding meant that Alton found runs hard to come by. Pryce and Burton put up the most significant resistance after a destructive spell of pace bowling by Chris Pike (3 – 26). Ash Jeggo (1 – 24) was a perfect foil at the other end, bowling with tight fisted economy. Wickets fell too regularly for Alton to really get going but the run rate increased steadily toward the end of the innings and a flurry of boundaries helped Alton to reach a final total of 189 from their allotted 40 overs.

Farnborough’s innings started hesitantly. The influential Imran Choudhary was lost early and excellent bowling from Cooper (0 – 6) and Burton (1 – 38) made life very difficult for the Boro batsmen. However dogged batting by Nathan Clarke (49) and, Man-of-the-Match, Neill Marsh meant that Alton could not break through.

The required run rate rose steadily throughout the innings as Marsh and Clarke waited patiently to strike. Clarke was eventually caught on the boundary as he tried to accelerate. Alton sensed that they might have Farnborough on the ropes and even more pressure was applied to the new batsman, Player of the Year, Nick Wellman.

Indeed with 5 overs remaining Farnborough still required 42 to win and faced with accurate and efficient bowling, they looked as if it may be too much. However, Marsh had been building a perfectly judged anchor innings, allowing Wellman to play with freedom. Both players set about demolishing the Alton attack. Wellman finished the game with an over to spare by smashing Hughstanton for 6. He finished with 39 from 22 balls and was only overshadowed by Marsh who finished on an unbeaten and consummate 75, undoubtedly winning the game for Farnborough.