Clapham Commoners Cricket Club

Match Report: CCCC Charity Match 2025

The day kicked off with a delayed start at 11:15. A hum of activity surrounded the ground. The grass was lush, damp, and the wicket green. The toss was complete, with the Southsiders set to open the batting.

Ben Alcoe and Archie Collins bravely stepped forward. After two dot balls from Fergus Gregorie, Alcoe tucked one away nicely for four.

Collins showed his colours early, coming out swinging. An early boundary seemed to set the tone for his innings. After a few twos, he opened up to Ollie Martin at mid-off, who took the catch. The first wicket had fallen. Hechle and Gregorie were now well into their four-over spells.

In at three came the chippy Andy Russell – a former Oxford cricketer, pitched as a ‘one to watch’. The name rang true, though not for run-scoring. Rather, his tendency to fluff a shot led to two near-dismissals: a fingertips miss from Alfie Coward at first slip, and a tough fumble from a spinning ball by Alistair Findlay at mid-on gave him brief respite.

Alcoe was proving a stalwart opener before another wicket tumbled. Matthew Findlay had been brought on as a ‘star bowler’. Three balls in, and Randy chopped on to his stumps, leaving the Southsiders at 46-2.

In came Harry Eaton – a man who plays cricket for a living. His wafting first shot showed he was eager to kick on. But in came Matthew Findlay again – his 6’6” frame proving an intimidating presence. Harry was bamboozled; his bat dangled in play, and a thick edge flew to Will Findlay. A shake of the head and a few “well batted” calls from the crowd accompanied him off the pitch after just two balls. A tough one to take for a batter with more to give.

At 46-3, in stepped captain Alex Cooper. Familiar with the ground – his home turf – he oozed confidence, especially now that Findlay’s spell had ended. A few quick singles and a close call after three runs kept him settled at the crease.

Meanwhile, Alcoe was finding his groove. He had worn down the new ball, which was splitting by over ten overs in, and tonked his first six down the leg side. Soon after, he brought up his 50 to applause from the crowd.

The two batters ticked along well, working through the spinners Ollie Martin and Harry Hawley. More bowling changes came, with Alfie Coward and Milo Crewe burning through the overs.

The North were scrambling – fading in energy and losing their nerve.

Alex Cooper batted purposefully, eyeing up the distracted Jack Hechle, who was sipping a Corona at the boundary. A notable moment came when Fergus Gregorie failed to offer a long barrier, leaking a further four byes. More followed when both Findlay at wicketkeeper and Hawley at first slip declined to stop a high no-ball from Coward.

Alcoe rediscovered his stride with a second six. A fingertip drop by Martin at mid-on allowed him to race through the 70s and into the high 90s. For an over he stalled – his free-scoring slowed – until the inevitable: a Ben Alcoe 100. A raise of the bat, and he walked off, a hotshot retiring with his head held high and a roaring crowd behind him. It wasn’t the break the North side had expected, but it was one they needed – they were tiring.

The Alcoe–Cooper partnership of 177 runs was a legendary knock.
The score now sat at 222-4. In stepped Tom Horton – a man weary from standing in the South London plains for two hours as square leg umpire. At the crease, he defended one ball, then struck the next past the bowler for four.

The captain was next to fall – another great ball from Matthew Findlay, but an even better take from Harry Hawley. The captain was gone for 69 – a knock to be proud of.

From here, the wickets came thick and fast. Tom fell to an edged pull off Milo Crewe. The fifth wicket gone.

Charlie Pexton was next – a classy cricketer, but a low, fizzing cut to Martin at point led to a swift dismissal.

The partnership of Dom Alms and Alex Skinner was short but sweet. Alex, easing herself into the game, tucked away some nice runs, only to fall to a run-out by the ever-present Hechle.

All that remained was one more wicket. Dom Alms had been finding the ropes – three fours – before attempting a reverse sweep. It did not come off…

Fergus Previte held his ground, a cap preferred over a helmet, scoring one from seven balls before a thick top edge from Alms spiralled skyward. A call came for Charlie Macnab under the high ball – and that was it. The Southsiders were done. His housemate, Jack Hechle, had his second wicket.

Mentions must go to the heavy bowling shifts from Fergus Gregorie (1-55) and Jack Hechle (2-48), alongside a special 3-17 from the younger Findlay brother.
The target was set: 255 to win in just 2.5 hours, after nearly four hours in the field.

Extras ( B 8 | LB 2 | WD 30 | NB 3 | Bonus 1 )

Final tally- 254/8

Overs played 44.5 Run Rate 5.7

28-1 (Archie Collins, 4.4), 46-2 (Andy Russell, 9.4), 46-3 (Harry Eaton, 10.0), 230-4 (Alex Cooper, 38.4), 234-5 (Tom Horton, 39.5), 234-6 (Charlie Pexton, 40.2), 237-7 (Alex Skinner, 42.1), 254-8 (Dom Alms, 44.5)

North of the River

The target was set, 255 the target from the previous 45 overs. The batters were worn down as they stepped into the field. The captain Alastair Findlay and Harry Hawley opened the batting.

A nervy start led to Hawley blocking out a maiden over from Charlie Pexton. Thus the second over fell to the captain to face, with Dom Alms to bowl.

The wicket was proving a tricky one, with a dot ball for the captain. A second ball from Alms popped up high, and with a drive to extra cover not beating the man, Findlay was gone.

Up next, Ollie Martin. A loose bat wafted at two balls on the off side but no connection. A third defensive block was not usually in this man’s repertoire, and he soon edged a cut over cover, running two.

Here Hawley took control of the innings with several fours before Martin regained strike. A straight drive for four from Martin proved to be his last of the innings. Alex Skinner had her first over to bowl. A couple of range finders from Skinner, and with the third ball she struck, finding the edge of Martin’s bat.

Up next, Alfie Coward. Two giants at the crease with a combined height of close to 13 feet who would rebuild the innings. Coward opened with a menacing strike rate, consistently over a run a ball. Hawley handled a tricky spell with his tally rising to 39. With the spinner Previte up to bowl, Hawley stepped outside off stump only for the ball to turn around and clip the top of leg stump, leaving the North Side 86-3.
Charlie McNab was up next. An unorthodox batting form, with the bat wielded high and wide. McNab did not know what a defensive shot was, looking to attack every ball. He kept his eye in for the next 27 balls, taking 7 runs in the process before hitting one skywards to Cooper at mid-off, resulting in the second wicket for Skinner.

The Coward–Elder Findlay partnership was a short-lived one, but saw Coward hit a career-best of 55 with an impressive strike rate of 102. Looking to up this further, he went for the ropes. The ball took off just as McNab’s had done 14 runs earlier, but this time Skinner was both the bowler and the catcher.

Will Findlay soon moved into double figures with Milo Crewe now his partner at the crease. In what was becoming a theme of the day, Findlay sent one high up from a top edge. The ball floated high for an age, with Cooper setting himself underneath, his hands forming a cradle ready to take his second wicket. But under the pressure of the moment, and perhaps the sun creeping into his eyes, the ball spun out of his hands and thudded to the turf. One to forget for the captain…

Crewe now started motoring. His strike rate running at over 150, the runs were coming thick and fast, with the partnership running through past a 200 total for the team.

Some respite came when a direct throw from Alcoe took the wicket of Findlay, who found himself stranded between the stumps. His final total was 25 off 22 balls, but the North Side were now at 231, needing 24 runs for the win but with just 15 minutes of play remaining.

Crewe continued his fast scoring, with the younger Matthew Findlay now in at number eight for the team, making light work of the bowlers. In just seven balls faced he took his tally to 14. With two minutes of play left and three runs needed, Findlay was poised to close the contest. A heave down the leg side and six runs scored, the North Side claimed victory.

Crewe finished on 83 not out including 17 fours, he was looking like he could have gone on and on. But beyond the boundaries, the day was about more than just cricket. This match was played in aid of Parkinson’s, a cause close to many present, both on and off the field. Every boundary struck, every wicket taken, and every cheer from the crowd echoed a shared purpose: to raise awareness and provide support for Parkinson’s UK.

Extras ( B 2 | WD 11 | NB 6 ) 19 Overs 37.1

Total 258/6 Run Rate 6.9

Fall Of Wickets
0-1 (Alastair Findlay, 1.2), 38-2 (Ollie Martin, 6.2), 85-3 (Harry Hawley, 14.2), 126-4 (Charlie Mcnab, 22.5), 140-5 (Alfie Coward, 24.4), 231-6 (Will Findlay, 34.5)