On Friday 1 May, nine Year 6 boys travelled to Oundle School to compete in the IAPS Cricket Festival, enjoying a full day of high-quality cricket in fantastic weather.

The format ensured maximum involvement, with seven overs per side, an out‑you’re‑out structure, batters retiring at 25, and everyone bowling one over. This led to short, action‑packed games that placed real pressure on skills, decision‑making and teamwork.

The morning saw three closely fought group matches. The boys made a brilliant start with a comfortable victory against Kimbolton, before narrowly losing to Winchester House in a tense match that went down to the final over. The last group game saw Paul and Freddie needing three runs to win off the final ball. A frantic scramble ended in a run‑out while pushing for the third run, resulting in a tie. Thanks to taking more wickets in the group stage, the boys progressed in second place.

A tight semi‑final loss to Spratton led to a final match against Leicester Grammar, where the boys finished the day in style with a convincing victory. This performance clearly demonstrated the progress made throughout the festival.

The boys’ attitude, resilience and teamwork were excellent all day, making this a fantastic learning experience and a hugely enjoyable occasion for everyone involved.