Hampton First XI Cricket Tour: Barbados

By James Eggleton

The Hampton First XI cricket team went on their biannual cricket tour this spring break, their destination: Barbados.

Despite the long flight, the journey passed quickly with the 18-strong squad in eager anticipation of the exciting Caribbean experience that lay ahead.

Hit immediately with the 30°C heat, day one would be an acclimatisation training session at Franklyn Stephenson Academy, a productive yet tiring session left the team prepared and excited for the seven matches they would play across the following days.

The acclimatisation session was followed by a party bus tour of the island, giving the team an amazing opportunity to soak up the full Bajen experience: extraordinary scenery, a rich history, and an introduction to Barbados’ vibrant music and cultural scene!

Day two saw the First XI kick off their 2025 season in earnest with two T20s against Barbados Women. Playing against a high-quality opposition, including West Indies Women Internationals, Hampton displayed excellent performances in both matches; impressive performances from Will Wallace with 41*(21) in the first match, and Richard Page with 51rtd(29) and Will Youster with the ball (3-8) in the second steering Hampton to two convincing victories. An amazing day was capped off with the team meeting Jason Holder, former Windies Cricket Captain, at the ground.

Hampton’s next fixture was a day-night white ball game under floodlights against Isolation Cavaliers u21s. A true Caribbean experience awaited the boys as the picturesque ground was accompanied by music, live commentary, and a barbecue. The tourists, bowling first, knocked over the Cavaliers for only 72 thanks to outstanding bowling spells from Raphael Taylor, 5-3-4-3. As the sun set, Hampton faltered in the chase with quick wickets falling at the start, left reeling at 25-5. A watchful partnership between James Eggleton (27*) and Ollie Hamilton (14) got the visitors to within striking distance of the target and Hampton eventually got over the line with 2 wickets to spare.

Match day 3, the last before a well-needed rest day, was a 50 over red ball game between Hampton and Grantly Adam’s School. Hampton opted to bat first in the 30°C heat, a trial of concentration and stamina awaited their batters. Nat Taylor and Captain Anuj Srivastav rose to the challenge scoring 65rtd and 51rtd respectively, setting a strong platform for Hampton’s middle order. Cameos from Hugo Knowles (28) and Olly Spray (33) propelled the visitors to 297 off their 50 overs. An impressive bowling performance was equally matched by yet another strong display from the bowling attack with both Youster and R Taylor recording identical figures of 5-1-10-3 as the home side fell 200 runs short of their target.

After a rest day spent at the Boatyard Beach Club in Bridgetown, the team was ready for their toughest challenge yet, a 50 over day-night game against Legacy Cricket Academy (LCA) at the University of West Indies Cricket Stadium. Fielding first, another hot and tiring day awaited the team who fought valiantly to restrict LCA to 310 on a flat pitch with spinners N Taylor and Zaid Ahmed both taking two key wickets. Special mention should also go to wicketkeepers Oli Lacey and Maddox Dakin with a very tidy displays in challenging conditions. Unfortunately, the chase would prove too much for Hampton who would fall 100 runs short of their target. However, much credit is due to Hampton’s top order, and particularly Anuj Srivastav who braved a fiery bowling attack under the lights, dubbed the ‘best bowling attack in Barbados’, Srivastav scoring a scintillating 60, albeit in vain.

Hampton returned to their winning ways with a convincing victory over Pickwick CC. A tough wicket (a rarity in Barbados) left Hampton struggling, five wickets had fallen without any meaningful partnerships, it would be James Stanworth who delivered with an explosive 49 (41) and a steadying 40 from Hamilton that propelled Hampton up to 180, a competitive score. With overcast and cool conditions, Hampton’s bowlers may have sensed some familiarity in the setting and, as always, were straight into their work. Seamers Ed Reilly and Aryan Desai combined in an impressive opening spell, dispatching Pickwick’s top order with figures of 4-1-7-1 and 4-0-15-3 respectively. Hampton made quick work of Pickwick’s middle order and tail with two wickets apiece for Knowles, Ahmed, and Youster, bowling the hosts out for 70.

Then came the climax of the tour. The final game, the toughest game, on the biggest stage of them all, walking in the footsteps of cricketing legends: Lara, Root, Kohli, Ponting, Kallis, and many more; Hampton’s final game was at the Kensington Oval against the Barbados Select XI. Hampton bowled first on a green top wicket, opening bowlers Hamilton and Ollie Davies restricted Barbados and pressured the batting side. Nevertheless, Barbados showed their class and depth, accelerating from 120 off 30 overs to 200 from 42. A tight death overs spell from Knowles gave Hampton the momentum in the final 10 overs, taking 3 wickets from the Malcom Marshall End including a wicket thanks to breathtaking catch by Page on the boundary rope, a world class catch fitting for the phenomenal venue.

So, Hampton required 290 to win at the Kensington Oval in the final game of the tour. A challenging opening spell from Barbados’s quicks left Hampton in danger early, only on 24 runs for the loss of two wickets, however a crucial 80 run partnership between Anuj Srivastav (45) and James Eggleton took Hampton through the new ball and established a foothold in the chase. Eggleton and Hamilton continued to close in on the target, taking Hampton through the middle overs and into a strong position by 32nd over. With Eggleton retired on 50 runs, the baton was handed to Stanworth and Thomas Tabor to counterattack alongside Hamilton, Stanworth scoring 18 off 11 and Tabor bludgeoning 34 off 20, both placing the Barbados bowlers into the stands on multiple occasions. Finally, it was Hamilton, who finished on an outstanding 82*, and the new batter Olly Spray who knocked off the final ten runs with three overs to spare, with Spray sealing the deal with an emphatic one-bounce four. Hampton had triumphed with an historic victory. It was the perfect way to end what had been an amazing tour for all and an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Thank you very much to Mr Banerjee, Mr Parrish, and Mr Mills for the hard work and generosity in planning, organising, and managing the tour!