Leman’s 61 sees 3rd XI claim 3rd victory against Dulwich

By Harry McLusky

The 3rd XI maintained an excellent start to their 2023/24 cricketing season, following up their victory over Tiffin with a win on the road over Dulwich – their third of the season. 

The away side initially set a modest total of 132-3, however an unexpected shortening of the overs to 20 per side gifted Hampton an extra 20 runs, setting Dulwich a total of 153 to win.

Hal Leman cruised to his first 50 of the season, combining with captain, Ollie Prescott Brann, in a game-winning 77-run partnership. 

Prescott Brann fell just short of his own half-century, chasing a teasing delivery and nicking it to the keeper. 

Leman reached 61 before succumbing to a top edge in the final over. 

Hampton’s solid batting performance was followed up by a stellar bowling display, managing to eliminate Dulwich’s batsmen with one ball to spare.

Jimmy Gilbart-Smith and Ben Moffatt set the tone in the opening overs with both taking quick wickets early on. Moffatt’s first of three came through the more unorthodox route of hit-wicket, with his short ball taking advantage of an unpredictable wicket, bamboozling the batsman, whose pull shot crashed into his own stumps. 

Harry McLusky kept things tight, following on from the openers with a wicket maiden, finishing on the same figures as Gilbart-Smith: 1-14 off three overs. 

Faizan Faraz’s opening over saw two more wickets fall, before he grabbed his third four overs later, thanks to a diving catch from Prescott Brann. 

Ben Williams claimed his first wicket of the season shortly afterwards, with Moffatt and Ben Hawkins cleaning up the tail, with the former finishing on excellent figures of 3-9 off his three overs. 

The 3rd XI will look to continue their rich vein of form next week, as they take on Reed’s School.  

See the full match scorecard here: https://hamptonschool.play-cricket.com/website/results/6581430