Old Eleans returned to King’s Ely on Saturday 20 June for a superb day of cricket, with fixtures taking place against both the Boys’ 1st XI and the Senior Girls’ 1st XI.

Played in glorious sunshine and excellent spirit, the day brought together current pupils, former pupils, staff, families and supporters, celebrating not only competitive cricket but the enduring sense of connection between Old Eleans and the school.

On Campus Field, the Boys’ 1st XI took on the Old Eleans in their annual fixture. Old Eleans captain Alex Knowles won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked to be an excellent pitch.

The 1st XI made an impressive start with the ball, with Benjy Michell and Harry Lefevre bowling superbly in their opening spells. The breakthrough came when Michell found the outside edge of Rory Brech, with Ted Hall taking an excellent diving catch. Michell continued confidently, soon removing Connor Marshall LBW.

The Old Eleans then began to build, with Zack Bailey making 43 and Callum Hall adding 28 as they looked to put pressure back on the school side. Further wickets from Will Townsend, George Coulston, Alexander Tilbrook and Ted Hall kept the 1st XI firmly in the contest. There was also a memorable family moment as Tom Surbey claimed the wicket of his father, Charlie Surbey, LBW for 16. A late push from Tom Jackson, who made 30, and Sol Boon, who finished unbeaten on 11, helped the Old Eleans reach 183–9 from their 35 overs.

In reply, the 1st XI suffered an early setback when James Barber was dismissed from the first ball of the innings by Connor Marshall. Josh Davidson struck a fine back-foot punch for four before being caught behind for 6, leaving the school side with work to do.

Harry Lefevre and Ted Hall steadied the innings with a composed partnership of 64, batting superbly together before a mix-up led to a run-out. Charlie Pynn, making only his second appearance for the 1st XI, added 9 before Marcus Faine and Albie Brech took the chase deep. Faine made an excellent 41, while Brech finished unbeaten on 30. Ben Alderton then sealed the win in style, driving through the covers for four as the 1st XI reached their target in 33.1 overs.

Earlier in the day, the Senior Girls’ 1st XI rounded off their school season with an impressive 34-run victory over the Ladies Old Eleans. Now in its third year, the Ladies Old Eleans fixture has become a much-valued part of the cricket calendar and once again proved a great success.

This year’s match was played alongside the Prep School Summer Celebration on School Field, creating a wonderful atmosphere around the ground. With the sun shining, a live band playing and families enjoying the wider event, there was a real sense of occasion for everyone involved.

Batting first, King’s produced a strong display, posting 145–2. Olivia Rolls and Imogen Smith were the main contributors with the bat, both finishing unbeaten with scores in the 30s and helping the side build useful partnerships throughout the innings. With a strong total on the board, a number of batters were retired to allow more players time at the crease.

In response, the Senior Girls continued their impressive performance with a disciplined effort in the field. The bowlers showed excellent accuracy, consistently applying pressure and preventing the Ladies Old Eleans from building any significant partnerships. The Old Eleans were restricted to 111–6, securing a well-deserved 34-run win for the school side.

Despite finishing on the losing side, Rosie Ringer deserves special mention for a superb innings of 45 for the Ladies Old Eleans, top-scoring for her side and standing out as the leading batter of the match.

Across both fixtures, the day was a wonderful celebration of cricket at King’s Ely and the continuing bond between current pupils and Old Eleans. It was fantastic to see familiar faces return to the pitches where many had once played their own school cricket, and to see the fixtures enjoyed by players, spectators and officials alike.

Huge thanks go to Alex Knowles and the Old Eleans players for supporting another competitive and enjoyable fixture, as well as to the Ladies Old Eleans for helping to make the girls’ match such a positive occasion. Thanks also go to the umpires, Bill Perceval Maxwell and James Thomas, who officiated across almost 109 overs of cricket during the day, a remarkable effort in the heat.

We are also grateful to the catering team for the excellent match tea, the custodians for arranging the furniture, and the grounds team for preparing superb pitches.

The day was a fitting conclusion to the school cricket season and a reminder of the strength, warmth and enjoyment that Old Elean sport continues to bring to the King’s Ely community.