Match report

Old Merchant Taylors’ recorded a convincing victory against Haileybury Hermits in the first round of the Cricketer Cup on Sunday. Simon Noach produced another match winning bowling performance in the competition, taking six wickets for 25 in an 8 over spell which tore apart the heart of Haileybury’s middle order batting. In the morning session, Haileybury made a fine start with Sam Billings, currently on the Kent playing staff, looking particularly impressive. At 48 for no wicket the signs were beginning to look ominous for OMT, but once both openers had departed, the innings lost momentum and OMT’s bowlers took the initiative. Two wickets for Sohan Modi and one for Jehan Jeffrie, making his Cricketer Cup debut, set up Noach to rip through the rest of the batting and Haileybury collapsed to 108 all out after 36 overs. Whilst the result was never seriously in doubt, OMT took a cautious approach to the run chase. The openers Phil Wise 35no and Ash Mehta 33 waited for the bad ball to hit and there was a period in the middle of the innings when the runs almost dried up due to some accurate bowling from Woodburn and Carter. It was left to Modi to see OMT home with a few lusty blows. The target was reached with seven wickets in hand and 14 overs to spare. OMT will now play either Old Cliftonians or Uppingham Rovers away in the second round on June 30.