Australian gets off to a flyer in Trophy opener

14 April 2012

Australia's all-conquering cricketers may not arrive to defend the Ashes for another month, but countryman Ben Claypole is proving an effective warm-up man.

Claypole showed there is no hiding place from talented Australians with a recordbreaking double century during Brondesbury's victory over Oxford in the first round of the £13,100 Evening Standard Challenge Trophy.

The 28-year-old fitness instructor, who hails from Melbourne but has lived in London for three years, hammered 204 not out from 146 balls, with 19 fours and five sixes, as former champions Brondesbury rattled up 347 for three from their 50 overs. They then bowled out Oxford for 153 to clinch a second-round place in the 14th season of club cricket's richest knockout tournament.

Claypole's batting tour-de-force broke a tournament record that had stood for 10 years, topping the 201 not out made by Gary Norris for Walthamstow in the 1995 competition.

His captain Tommy Simpson said: "Ben hit the ball beautifully, right from the start. His second ball went for six into the tennis courts and he middled just about everything after that. It was great to watch, especially as he got a first-ball duck in the league the day before."

Radlett, the 2003 champions, crushed Stanmore by seven wickets thanks to an impressive debut from former Worcestershire left-hander David Taylor.

Taylor, a century maker for High Wycombe in the 2002 final, took three wickets before hitting a blistering 92, sharing a third-wicket stand of 146 with Nick Fielden, who scored 78 not out.

Results

Ickenham (164-1) bt Uxbridge (163) by nine wkts, Beaconsfield (159-9) bt Tring Park (159) by losing fewer wickets; Barnet (223) bt Wycombe House (139) by 84 runs; Shepherds Bush (311-8) bt Watford Town (190) by 121 runs; West Herts (68-4) bt St Margaretsbury (65) by six wkts; St Albans (230) bt Brentham (227) by three runs; Welwyn GC (250-4) bt Harrow (248-7) by six wkts; Harrow Town (142-3) bt Bessborough (141) by seven wkts; Eastcote (282-7) bt Southgate (193) by 89 runs; Radlett (232-3) bt Stanmore (231) by seven wkts; Kenton (148-9) bt Indian Gymkhana (77) by 71 runs; Hertford (180-7) bt Old Actonians (176) by three wkts; Cockfosters (154-5) bt Vale (153) by five wkts; South Hampstead (162-1) bt Acton (158) by nine wkts; Wembley bt NPL Teddington on walkover; Brondesbury (347-3) bt Oxford (153) by 194 runs; Osterley (207-2) bt Knebworth Park (206) by eight wkts; Chingford (256-6) bt Westcliff (100) by 156 runs; Dartford (167) bt Old Mid-Whitgiftians (80) by 87 runs; Bickley Park (275-4) bt Banstead (125) by 150 runs; Beckenham (171-1) bt Beddington (170) by nine wkts; Blackheath (133-8) bt Linden Park (131) by two wkts; Trojans (312-8) bt Gravesend (53) by 259 runs; Tunbridge Wells (127-8) bt Orpington (126) by two wkts; Purley (287-5) bt Addiscombe (286-5) by five wkts; Hayes (Kent) (97-1) bt Reigate Priory (96) by nine wkts; Lordswood (262-6) bt Sutton (195) by 67 runs.

Other dates: Round 1B: 29 May; Round 2: 19 June; Round 3: 3 July; Round 4: 17 July. Quarter-finals: 7 August; Semi-finals: 21 August, Final (The Oval): 18 September

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