University College School

Ground: UCS Playing Fields, Ranulf Road, London NW2 2BH (most games played at home)

Teams:

Chess Valley Sunday League XI (9 Sunday afternoon League fixtures)

Friendly XI (30 weekend afternoon games of varying strength)

20/20 XI (5 Tuesday evening games)

Touring XI (Two tours: Amsterdam and Devon)

Practice: Nets on Tuesdays from 18.15 to 20.00 pm at Ranulf Road starting April 26

New players: WELCOME - all ages and abilities. Social members also welcome.

Contact Details

Social, Tours and Special Events

The Bar at Ranulf Road (attractive prices and big screen Sky TV) will be open during all home games and net evenings with several featuring BBQs as well. The link below to our 2011 fixture list  gives full details of which fixtures will have social events attached to them, but below is a brief list of dates to note.

Devon Tour Report - August 2011

UCS Old Boys completed a triumphant tour of Devon during the first week of August, after remaining unbeaten for the second successive year.

Following the five-win clean sweep of 2010, the Old Boys battled hard against some tough opposition to record three wins and two draws this time around. Five wickets from Ed Bayliss on Monday 1 August saw UCS overcome Winscombe before the Old Boys enjoyed a winning draw when one run short of victory against North Devon on Tuesday as David Goodstone struck 91. The tourists then thrashed Exeter on Wednesday thanks to unbeaten centuries from Paul Durban and Joe Craig. Thursday saw a spirited lower order hold out for a draw against Devon Dumplings while Durban and Craig both struck half centuries to ensure victory over Failand & Portbury on the final day.

A great time was had by Old Boys young and old with a number of recent leavers among the tour debutants, including Will Orchard, Oli Mayo and Ashley Connick.

Ben Bloom

Tour of the Netherlands - May 2011

Canals, trees, barges, bicycles, trams and cricket all in a fun packed three day tour. Some went by plane, some drove and some went by train, but all arrived in glorious weather for two matches against teams that are fast becoming good friends and difficult cricketing opponents.

The team gathered mainly on the Thursday night. In keeping with the local tradition, Farhad Khanzada hired a bicycle to ride around what is such a pretty city. The next day's cricket was in the back of people’s minds as they watched the sun set while laughing and joking together. All was relaxed and calm.

Perhaps too calm, as having been put into bat by Zamigos, UCS found themselves on 12 runs for 4 wickets with barely five overs gone. Three batsmen had hit a four, blocked a ball and then got out. Defeat and tragedy were looming large. John Baglivi went in at number six and scored 40 – his best score for UCS – and together with Leigh Adams put on more than 70 runs to put a spine to the innings. Captain Adam Diamond, playing his first game in a year, topped 30, and Oliver Reichard got a quick-fire 20-odd, allowing UCS to recover to 155 for 8 at the end of their allotted 40 overs. A good recovery! Alas, it was not to be. Zamigos raced to a very quick 80. Catches win matches, but dropped catches don’t, and three early chances were grounded. A late fight back with Oliver Reichard leading the way with the ball gave brief hope for a win, but Zamigoes blocked their way to the required total with several overs to spare. The dinner served to the teams was delicious, with awards presented to players from both teams. Laughter and animated talk continued until the sun had set and the taxis came to take the tourists away. A very good day's cricket with some excellent individual performances.

The next day the team travelled to Utrecht to play Hercules in a Twenty20 match, with Hercules batting first. Their top batsman, who last year scored more than 100 runs in 10 overs, fell to John Baglivi for nine, with Oliver Reichard taking the catch. A succession of wickets followed, and international-laden Hercules made 110 from their allocated overs. UCS’s reply was quick-fire, with Jon O’Sullivan contributing 30 runs and Jonathan Pilgrim, on his first Dutch tour, top scoring with a well-crafted 43. The outcome was soon beyond doubt.

This was a vastly enjoyable tour, with lots of smiling, laughing and good cricket. Special mention must go to the following tour members: Leigh Adams, for some outstandingly creative tour rules; Alaric Edwards, for displaying outstanding gallantry in a variety of situations, and for winning the coveted 'tourist of the year' award; Oli Reichard and Ben Norris, for bowling and catching well; Farhad Khanzada, for his fiery short pitched balls; Jon Crofts, who proved that he can still swing it with the best of them; James Boxer, for graciously giving up his wicket to a 14 year old girl during the match against Hercules; Alex Games, for being a gentleman throughout and taking a quite brilliant caught and bowled chance; and last but not least Adam Diamond, for his quality captaincy and batting.

Naturally, there are other tales to tell but, 'what goes on tour, stays on tour'.

John Baglivi