By Charles Randall

29 July 2014

Nick Ferraby has enjoyed a memorable season, including the highlight of a century for Oxford against Cambridge in the drawn University Match, and his inspired batting has guided Aston Rowant through to the semi-finals of the Conference Cup, now sponsored by Barbados & Smile Group Travel Cup.

Ferraby, 31, a former Leicestershire all-rounder, won his Blue as a mature student at Wycliffe Hall, the theology college, scoring 107 and 69 against Cambridge in The Parks. Aston Rowant had every reason to be grateful for his skill and experience when he batted almost through the innings for 96 to secure a four-wicket victory at Weybridge, who probably started as favourites after their demolition of Stanmore in the previous round.

Weybridge made 184, dismissed in the 45th over. Luc Durandt top-scored with 48, having smashed 151 against Stanmore, and the best bowler was the ever-dependable Wesley Morrick with 3-33. The chase would have been awkward without Ferraby's innings, and the win was settled with plenty of overs to spare. The result was all the more a surprise in that Aston took a blow to their confidence the previous day when they were shot out for only 84 at home to Harefield in the Home Counties Premier League. The batting was wrecked by the Zimbabwe World Cup all-rounder Chomunorwa Chibhabha, who took 7-29 with the new ball, including the scalp of Ferraby for only 11.

Blackheath made impressive progress with a 47-run win over fellow Kent Premier League club Bexley. A group of batsmen tucked into some below-par bowling in a total of 317-6, led by opener Dipayan Paul with 88 off 77 balls and Warren Lee, 72 off 42 balls. In reply Bexley lost opener Robert Sehmi, out obstructing the field, but produced some fireworks of their own through Wesley Fernando, 73 off 60 balls, and Mehdi Abbas, 70 off 78 balls in a ninth-wicket stand of 96 with Dan Haley. The result was not in doubt when the Blackheath captain Chris Willetts ripped out the middle order with 4-33.

The unusual Sehmi incident relied on the judgement of the umpires. He advanced down the pitch, miscued into the ground and killed the ball as it spun behind him on the outside chance it might hit his stumps. As the Blackheath keeper Joe Kerridge had been hoping to sweep the ball into the wicket for a stumping there was a hesitant appeal – correctly upheld.  

Blackheath, top of the Kent League, emphasised their strength the previous day with a seven-wicket demolition of Bromley, Tanweer Sikandar hitting 100 not out at almost a run a ball. Bromley's home Conference Cup game against Sunbury was postponed due to the Surrey T20 final, which Sunbury lost to Ashtead.

Reigate Priory, top of the Surrey Championship, were run reasonably close by Harold Wood in Essex, winning by 21 runs. Batting down the order they made 194-8, with David Ramsden's 38 off 42 balls the highest score. Harold Wood struggled in reply after the bright moments offered by Raihan Hussain in his 50 off 37 balls. The former Surrey seamer Neil Saker took 4-40, and it was left to Umar Farooq to take Wood closer than expected with 34 at No 9.

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