Owing to heavy overnight rain, the start of this encounter was delayed and much credit must go to the School Groundsman David Warner and his team for getting a game in at all.

This year’s XI batted first and were kept relatively quiet by the new ball Rambler pairing of Griffin and MacDonagh in a reduced 35 overs per side game. Treon, who scored an accomplished century last year at Lord’s, looked good for his 28 before falling to Griffin. Shortly after, wickets for Fox and Fenwick reduced the XI to 38-4 and the Ramblers sensed an opportunity to impose themselves upon a strong Eton team. MacDonagh and Gnodde (both playing against their older, Rambler, brothers) had other ideas, however. They were joined by O’Brien in scoring well-constructed half centuries, taking their side to 206-5 off their allotted overs.

The Ramblers’ response came in the form of an opening stand of 50 for Farley and Hobson, but, when Farley fell for 30, the innings lost impetus. Hobson carried on, batting beautifully, whilst a couple of quick wickets fell around him. He was then ably assisted in the chase by Felix Hartley-Russell and, for a time, it looked like the Ramblers might be successful in the chase. When hard-hitting Hartley-Russell fell for 60 and Hobson for a majestic 64, Rambler hopes were dashed and the school came away as worthy winners by 13 runs.