Croydon Teachers 132 Croydon Schools' U18s 124 for 8

Two outstanding individual performances in the annual Croydon Schools' Cricket Association's Teachers v Under 18 pupils, saw the Teachers win by eight runs at Trinity School on Friday.

The students got off to a great start as they dismissed the Teachers' first three batsmen - David Dyer (Trinity), Phil Barnes (Riddlesdown) and Roman Parker (St Joseph's) - for no score.

Left arm seamer, Oliver Laurence (Coulsdon) grabbed two of the wickets, with Andre Harfield getting the other.

But a lifesaving innings by Nigel Watson(Old Palace), well supported by Adam Shaul (St Joseph's) took the Teachers' score from Seven for three, to 71 for four after 14 overs in this 30-a-side encounter.

On a difficult pitch of uneven bounce the students took five more wickets as the opposition crawled to a total of 100 for nine.

Slow left arm spinner, Sammer Amin (Riddlesdown) returned admirable figures of two for 12 off his six overs and Jaydev Raval (Harris CTC) two for 10 off four overs.

Batting at number eleven, Teachers skipper, Alan Wood (Edenham) boosted his side's total to 132 all out, with a quickfire 23.

When the students replied, they found themselves bogged down against some accurate bowling and at the halfway stage of 15 overs they were only 25 for two.

After the loss of more wickets their task looked hopeless on 58 for five with only eight overs remaining, and 75 needed.

But in stepped skipper, Richard Piggin (Trinity). In an aggressive knock of 40 (including two sixes and four four's) which took only 25 minutes, he took his side to within sight of an improbable win. But Watson stole the man of the match accolade for he had the last word, taking three wickets for 16 off three overs and restricting the students to 124 for eight nine runs short. Teachers: David Dyer (Trinity), David Webb, Alan Wood, (Edenham), Philip Barnes, Paul Foster (Riddlesdown), Terry Edwards, John Harris-Rees (Ashburton), Jim Hammond, Roman Parker, Adam Shaul (St Joseph's), Nigel Watson (Old Palace). Students: Richard Piggin, Richie Knight, Ben Wilson (Trinity), Jon Wright (Whitgift), Matthew Benjamin (St Joseph's), Ian Messom, Sameer Amin (Riddlesdown), Michael Wood (Royal Russell), Jaydev Raval (Harris CTC), Oliver Laurence (Coulsdon), Andre Harfied (St Mary's), Ajay Patel (The Archbishop Lanfranc).