As the glorious June sunshine bathed the pristine grounds of Cranleigh, the school’s cricket season reached a spectacular high with two days of outstanding U11 tournaments. Welcoming young players to the annual Pope Cup – named after celebrated Old Cranleighan and England Test cricketer Ollie Pope – the events offered a wonderful opportunity for pupils to challenge themselves, build confidence, and compete in the spirit of camaraderie and respect.
Boys’ U11A Crowned Champions at the Inaugural Pope Tournament
The boys’ tournament, hosted by Cranleigh Senior School, saw the Under 11 A team enjoy a magnificent, undefeated run. Competing in a rapid six-a-side format against AGS (A and B), Aldro, Downsend, and Halstead St Andrew’s, teams faced a six-over innings limit with batters retiring at 25 runs. Cranleigh performed brilliantly from their very first delivery, winning all five matches to be crowned tournament champions.
This title run was driven by remarkable individual performances. Gwilym L dominated the batting, amassing 131 runs across the tournament without once being dismissed, including four unbeaten retirements of 25. Wilfie D provided superb support, adding 83 runs with two unbeaten 25s. Behind the stumps, Henry L-S deserved special recognition for stepping in as wicketkeeper to cover for Xavi U, executing a flawless performance. The championship-winning squad comprised Gwilym L, Theo T-W, Joey S, Wilfie D, Henry L-S, and Max B.
Girls’ U11 Teams Shine in the Pope Cup
The excitement continued with the girls’ Pope Cup, played alongside the Girls’ 1st XI flagship match against the Marylebone Cricket Club in a fantastic showcase of the women’s game. Cranleigh fielded two U11 teams, each playing four highly competitive fixtures.
The U11A team put on a dominant display, remaining entirely unbeaten until a nail-biting final against Guildford High School (GHS). In a dramatic finish, GHS chased down their target, needing nine runs from the final nine balls, leaving Cranleigh as proud tournament runners-up. Meanwhile, the U11B team played with immense determination to secure a memorable victory against the Halstead St Andrew’s A team.
Standout individual efforts highlighted the day: Molly S anchored the batting line-up as the tournament’s top run-scorer, while Olivia S claimed the most wickets with consistently accurate bowling. Cranleigh’s sharp fielding was also on display, featuring spectacular catches from both Bella LD and Olivia S. Huge congratulations go to all the players for representing Cranleigh with such passion, skill, and outstanding team spirit.
