JS Sports Vince Lindo T/20 Cup Finals Day at Hem Heath CC.
Checkley, Meakins, Moddershall and Hem Heath make up a very strong-looking finals day line-up and will battle it out for T/20 glory.
Checkley defeated Bagnall Norton and Leek to book their place. Meakins beat Stone and Norton-In-Hales to secure their passage. Moddershall saw off the challenges of Porthill, Eccleshall and Whitmore en route to finals day, and Hem Heath won against Elworth and Audley, securing their place in the finals. Hem Heath also have home advantage, which could play a part as the day goes on.
Semi Final 1 – Checkley vs Meakins.
Meakins won by 67 runs.
Checkley won the toss on a warm morning and elected to bowl.
Ash Shaw cut Laverty powerfully through point for the first boundary in the 2nd over. Nils Priestley took a sharp catch off his own bowling to dismiss Callum Wilshaw in the next over. Shaw whipped a full toss from Laverty to the mid-wicket fence to begin the 4th over. Simon Mugava rounded out the over by lifting a full ball over mid-off for the day’s first maximum.
Jack Farrington began the 5th over with 5 wides, which was followed by a short ball that Mugava pulled fiercely behind square for a boundary. Farrington got his revenge when Mugava ran past one later in the over, and Aaron Whitehurst did the rest behind the stumps, leaving Meakins 36/2. Sam Moores lifted Richard Cooper high over mid-wicket for a one-bounce four in the next over as Meakins ended the powerplay on 44/2. A clever reverse sweep from Shaw beat short third man and raced away to the boundary in the next over, moving him to 21*.
Checkley were dealt a massive blow in the 8th over when Cooper chased a ball into the legside off his own bowling and pulled up with a hamstring injury. Shaw cut Michael Allen, who had replaced Cooper, powerfully through the covers for his 4th boundary later in the over. A superbly timed shot from Shaw raced to the mid-wicket boundary in the next over before Matt Shaw dismissed him for 34 when he got a ball to get big on him. It hit the splice of the bat and ballooned to Cooper at short third man, who took a simple catch.
Meakins continued to accumulate, and they brought their 100 up in the 14th over. Moores found the boundary with the final delivery when he dragged a ball from Shaw through the legside, moving the score to 108/3. Jalat Khan struck high and handsomely over mid-on to begin the 15th over with a maximum. Moores was then caught by Abbotts on the legside boundary for 33 off the bowling of Allen later in the over. Khan rounded out the over by smashing a full toss over deep mid-wicket for another six before striking the final ball of the over powerfully down the ground for another boundary.
Pete Wilshaw slapped a full toss from Priestley over mid-wicket to begin the 17th over with a six. Four byes then followed before another mighty blow from Wilshaw sailed over the legside, moving the score to 147/4. Khan lifted Laverty over mid-on to start the 18th over with a maximum, moving his score to 42. Wilshaw began the 19th over with another huge blow over the legside. He slapped a full toss into the side screen later in the over for his second six of the over. A misfield by Priestley on the long off boundary gifted Khan another boundary in the final over before Wilshaw smashed a flat six down the ground. A wide and a dot followed as Meakins closed on 187/4 from their 20 overs with Khan unbeaten on 48 from 31 balls and Wilshaw 40 from just 21 balls with 5 huge sixes to his name. The pair added 72 in just 33 balls at the back end of the innings and put their side in a very strong position at the changeover.
Amaan Tariq made a huge breakthrough for Meakins in the 2nd over when he had the dangerous Priestley caught behind by Hammond, leaving Checkley 1/1. Abbotts drove Mugava through the covers off the back foot for the first boundary of the innings in the 3rd over. He pulled the next ball high over mid-wicket for a big six, moving the score along to 15/1. Allen advanced down the pitch and pulled Tariq through mid-wicket for his first boundary in the next over. Abbotts cut the first ball of the 5th over behind point for his 2nd boundary before Mugava trapped him LBW next ball, leaving Checkley 25/2.
Tom Carrigan cut his first ball powerfully through the covers to get off the mark with a boundary before he nicked through to Hammond to give Mugava his 2nd wicket. Allen lifted Tariq down the ground for a huge six to round out the powerplay with the score on 39/3. Hugo Schroder began the 7th over with a slog-sweep over the legside for a big six. Allen then holed out to Pete Wilshaw on the long-on off Mugava as Checkley fell to 46/4.
Farrington pulled a short ball from Shaw through mid-wicket for a boundary in the 8th over, advancing the score to 56/4. He swept Wilshaw neatly past short fine leg for his 2nd boundary in the 12th over as the rate began to climb above 12 runs an over. The Wilshaws combined to dismiss Schroder in the next over for 17. Callum took a good catch under the high ball on the legside boundary off Pete’s bowling, leaving Checkley 83/5.
Khan bowled Farrington in the next over for 24 with a quicker ball that skidded on as Checkley lost their 6th wicket with no addition to the score. Laverty struck Khan down the ground for a maximum in the 16th over, but Checkley had fallen well behind the rate now and were heading for defeat. Whitehurst nicked through to Hammond to give Khan his 2nd wicket in the 18th over, leaving Checkley 99/7. Laverty rounded out the over with a slog-sweep for six over mid-wicket as the end drew nearer. He hit a huge six onto the car park to round out the 19th before he holed out to Pete Wilshaw on the long-off boundary, giving Khan his 3rd wicket. He took his 4th wicket with the next ball when he bowled Shaw, giving Meakins victory by 67 runs and sealing their progress to the final. Khan finished with 4/15, and was superb with the ball in hand. Mugava picked up 3/28; he was especially good with the new ball inside the powerplay. He offered no width and cramped the batters superbly. Meakins thoroughly deserved their victory, being better in all departments during the game.
Semi Final 2 – Hem Heath vs Moddershall.
Hem Heath won by 17 runs.
Hem Heath won the toss and elected to bat in bright sunshine.
An inside edge from Matt Hodson flew to the fine-leg boundary in the opening over before Liam Banks flicked a leg-stump half-volley over mid-wicket for a one-bounce four. Four leg byes then rounded out an expensive over, with 15 runs scored. Banks lifted Danushka Sandaruwan over mid-off for his second boundary when he gave the ball some air in the next over.
Joe Walley trapped Hodson LBW in the 3rd over when he walked across his stumps and looked to work the ball into the legside, leaving Hem Heath 21/1. Banks smashed a full toss over mid-wicket for a huge six to begin the 4th over. A flick through square leg followed two balls later before he swept the final ball over square leg for a third boundary in the over. Banks had raced to 25* from just 18 balls as he started strongly. Garlick returned in the 6th over to pick up the big wicket of Banks when he holed out to Walley on the square leg boundary. Hem Heath finished the powerplay on 37/2 after Garlick bowled a superb final over.
Sam Kelsall and Joe Hawkins bowled two tight overs after the powerplay, which went for only 5 singles as they began to squeeze the home side. Kurtis Lally broke the shackles in the 9th over; he ramped Kelsall past short fine leg for a boundary before smashing the next delivery over wide mid-on for a huge six, moving the score to 57/2 at the end of the over.
A powerful pull stroke from Lally perfectly dissected the legside sweepers and crashed into the boundary boards in the 11th over before Sam Wilcox cut past short third man for another boundary later in the over. Lally hammered a full ball from Hawkins down the ground for an enormous six in the next over, advancing the score to 84/2. Another maximum followed for Lally in the 13th over when he struck Aizaz Ahmed high over long-off, moving his score to 41*.
Wilcox nicked Garlick to the third man fence in the next over when he attempted a big drive through the offside to bring up the 100 for the home side. Lally was dropped at long-on in the 15th over off Sandaruwan before Wilcox was stumped for 23 off the final ball, leaving Hem Heath 103/3 with 5 overs remaining. Walley returned in the over and bowled Lally for 45 when he tried to scoop a straight full delivery over the keeper’s head.
Bilawal Bhatti opened his account in fine style, smashing Walley high and handsomely over long-off for six. Sandaruwan picked up his 2nd wicket in the 17th over, bowling Dan Richardson as he tried to work a ball through the offside, leaving 116/5 with 3 overs to go. Zephryn Hunte slapped Hawkins over mid-wicket to round out the 18th over with a maximum. It advanced the score to 129/5 with two overs left. Garlick bowled Hunte with a slower ball to end an excellent 19th over where he conceded only 1 run. His mix of slower balls and pace on deliveries was tremendous, and Hunte struggled to lay bat on him during the over.
Bhatti slapped the first ball of the final over high over extra cover for six before Joe Hawkins took a good catch on the long-off boundary to dismiss him off the bowling of Walley from the next ball. Two singles and a wide followed before Nazakat Ali nicked the 5th ball past keeper Callum Hawkins and it ran away to the third-man boundary. Tom Hodson was run out off the final ball as Hem Heath closed on 144/7 from their 20 overs.
Garlick was excellent for Moddershall, taking 2/18 from his 4 overs. He bowled with great pace up front with the new ball and showed superb skills at the death. Walley finished with 3/26, bowling well at the end of the innings in particular. Sandaruwan was accurate as ever with his left-arm spin, bagging 2/24 from 4 overs. The Hem Heath total is slightly below par in my opinion, and they’ll have to work hard in the second innings to defend it. The outfield is quick, and the wicket has played true thus far.
Callum Hawkins whipped the first ball of the chase from Banks over square leg for a one-bounce four. He smashed Ben Topley over square leg for a maximum in the next over as he continued to show positivity. He lifted Banks over wide long-off for another six in the next over, moving Moddershall to 18/0. Another big six off Ben Topley into the car park followed in the 4th over before he pulled a short ball straight to Banks at mid-wicket to depart for 23.
Joe Hawkins flicked Banks neatly to the fine-leg boundary to begin the 5th over when Banks strayed onto his pads. Muaaz Ahmed advanced down the pitch and nicked Dan Richardson to the third man fence before drilling the next ball through mid-on for back-to-back boundaries. Four leg byes and a two rounded out the over as Moddershall finished the powerplay strongly on 48/1.
The introduction of Ali into the attack brought about the wicket of Hawkins when he holed out to Wilcox on the cover boundary, leaving Moddershall 55/2 in the 8th over. Kelsall cut his first ball sweetly behind point to get off the mark with a boundary. Ahmed flicked Bhatti through mid-wicket for another boundary in the next over, moving the score to 67/2. Bhatti removed Ahmed for 24 when he skied a catch to Tom Hodson at mid-off while attempting to play a pull shot. The ball hit high on the bat, presenting Hodson with a simple catch. Ahmed’s dismissal left Moddershall 75/3 in the 11th over.
Kelsall drove loosely at Richardson and Hunte took a good head-high catch at backward point as Hem Heath took two quick wickets to potentially swing things in their favour. Four leg byes rounded out the 12th over, taking the score to 81/4. Cameron Heard holed out to Wilcox on the legside boundary off the bowling of Richardson in the 14th over, leaving Moddershall in trouble at 86/5. They picked up 5 bonus runs later in the over when Richardson strayed down the legside and the ball beat keeper Hodson.
Walley pulled a short ball from Bhatti powerfully over the fielder at mid-wicket for his first boundary in the next over. Tom Hodson produced a spectacular one-handed grab over his shoulder to remove Walley later in the over, plunging Moddershall into further danger at 96/6. Fraser Hawkins pulled the first ball of the 17th over through mid-wicket for a vital boundary. He followed it up with a textbook extra cover drive two balls later, leaving Moddershall requiring 35 from the final 3 overs. Ali returned to get the big wicket of Hawkins when he ran past the first delivery of the next over, and Matt Hodson completed the stumping.
Aizaz Ahmed drove a full from Ali to the long-off fence before he cut behind point for back-to-back boundaries. A single came from the final ball, leaving Moddershall requiring 25 from the final 12 balls. Topley then bowled a magnificent 19th over, conceding only 6 runs. Richardson nicked off Jack Darlington with the first ball of the final over when he attempted a big shot into the legside. He conceded only a bye from the final deliveries to secure Hem Heath a 17-run victory and place in the final.
Hem Heath were superb with the ball in the second innings of this game; they didn’t panic when Callum Hawkins got Moddershall off to a good start. They built pressure after the powerplay and then took their chances superbly when they arose. Richardson in particular was superb, finishing with figures of 3/19 from 4 overs, and he really did swing the game back into his team’s favour. Ali (2/26) and Bhatti (2/20) offered fine support as Hem Heath squeezed superbly in the middle overs. It promises to be a great final between Hem Heath and Meakins as the day is set to conclude in glorious sunshine.
The Final: Hem Heath vs Meakins.
Meakins won by 3 wickets.
Hem Heath won the toss and elected to bat under clear skies.
Matt Hodson flicked the first ball of the match wide of the square-leg fielder and away to the boundary. Banks pulled a short ball from Tariq behind square for his first boundary in the next over before he chipped tamely to Pete Wilshaw at mid-off, who took a comfortable catch two balls later, leaving Hem Heath 9/1. Wilcox edged past a diving Hammond when he tried to force through the covers off the back foot later in the over. The ball ran to the third man for a streaky boundary as Wilcox had a stroke of luck.
Hodson flicked the final ball of the 4th over behind square for his second boundary when Tariq strayed onto his hip. A third boundary followed for Hodson in the next over when he slog-swept Mugava over square leg, moving him to 17*. Khan bowled Wilcox when he was introduced into the attack in the 6th over, leaving the home side 32/2.
Lally square drove a full wide delivery from Mugava through point for his first boundary to end the next over. He whipped Shaw through mid-wicket for his second boundary in the 8th over when the left-armer strayed onto his pads. Hodson cut Pete Wilshaw between point and short third man for his 4th boundary in the next over. Lally drove the final delivery of the 10th over down the ground for a one-bounce four as Hem Heath reached 59/2 at the halfway stage of their innings.
Callum Wilshaw took a good catch under the high ball to dismiss the set Hodson for 35 off the bowling of Pete Wilshaw, leaving Hem Heath 76/3 in the 13th over. A reverse sweep from Lally brought him another boundary from the final ball of the 14th over. Bhatti launched Wilshaw down the ground for a huge six in the next over before the Wilshaws teamed up again to remove him next ball when he holed out on the legside boundary. Pete Wilshaw then removed the dangerous Lally for 30 when he top-edged a sweep, and Hammond took a simple catch as Hem Heath lost their 5th wicket with only 91 on the board.
Things went from bad to worse in the next over for the home side when Richardson was run out by Mugava attempting a second run after pushing the ball into the legside. Hunte feathered a catch through to Hammond off the returning Tariq in the 17th over as Hem Heath were reduced to 94/7. Khan bowled Tom Hodson when he attempted a big shot into the legside. He then trapped Topley LBW next ball to leave the home side reeling at 101/9. Wilson Roe survived the hat-trick ball. Four leg byes came in the 19th over when Tariq strayed down the legside, moving the score to 106/9. Roe hammered the final ball of the innings down the ground for a boundary as Hem Heath closed on 115/9 from their 20 overs.
Meakins were excellent with the ball for the second time today. Although he went wicketless, Mugava was tremendous in the powerplay, and he set the tone for the rest of the innings. Wilshaw claimed 3/24 with his off-spin, and Khan backed him up with 3 more wickets as his wily left-arm was almost impossible to get away towards the back end. Tariq claimed the big wicket of Banks early on to put the home side on the back foot. Hodson and Lally built the only partnership of the innings, but it was a struggle for Hem Heath. They defended a below-par score in the semi-final and now must do it again if they are to be victorious.
Banks strayed down the legside in the opening over of the chase; the ball beat keeper Matt Hodson and ran away for 5 wides. Callum Wilshaw departed when he got a leading edge to Hunte at point as he tried to work a ball through the legside off Banks, leaving Meakins 6/1. Mugava drove airily through extra cover for the first boundary off the bat in the 3rd over. A second boundary in the over came when Banks found extra bounce and steered the rising ball to the third man fence, moving the score to 19/1.
Topley bowled Mugava in the 4th over when he attempted to smash a length delivery out of the ground as Meakins fell to 23/2. It was an unnecessary shot from Mugava, and it could come back to haunt the visitors if this game gets tight. Moores cut a short ball from Banks to the point boundary in the next over. Shaw smashed a loose delivery from Topley through the covers for his first boundary in the 6th over. He rounded out the powerplay with another boundary, clipping a ball off his pads past short fine leg, moving Meakins to 38/2.
Steady accumulation from Shaw and Moores took the score to 51/2 after 9 overs, leaving the visitors needing 65 from 66 balls. Shaw capitalised on two short balls from Bhatti in the 11th over. He pulled both of them powerfully through the leg side for boundaries, moving the score to 67/2 at the end of the over. Ali trapped Shaw LBW for 34 in the next over, giving Hem Heath a much-needed breakthrough. Moores cut a short ball from Ali behind point for another boundary. He finished the over with a powerful pull shot through wide mid-on for his third boundary, leaving the visitors requiring just 38 from the last 8 overs.
Bhatti bowled Khan with a quick delivery that went straight through him in the 13th over, reducing Meakins to 79/4 and keeping his side in the contest. Seven runs came from the 14th over, leaving the visitors requiring 29 to win from the final 36 balls. Only three singles came from the next over, reducing the equation to 26 from 30 balls. Richardson dismissed Hammond with a good short ball that could chip to Banks at mid-wicket, leaving Meakins 92/5. Hem Heath continued to pick up wickets and keep themselves in the match. Three singles rounded out the over, reducing the equation to 22 from 24 balls.
A Pete Wilshaw square drive off Topley flew to the point boundary before a single into the legside brought up the hundred for the visitors. A misfield on the cover boundary then gifted Moores a boundary. Two dots finished the over, leaving Meakins requiring 12 from 18 balls. Topley caught Moores for 34 running back from mid-off in the 18th over as 11 runs were now needed from 12 balls. Two dots rounded out the over as 11 were now needed from 12. Richardson bowled a superb over, taking the big wicket of Moores and conceding only 1 run as the pressure began to mount on the visitors.
A single from Wilshaw started the 19th over before two dots followed. Jon Clowes then nicked Ali through to keeper Hodson as he looked to smash the ball through the offside. Two singles finished the over as the equation became 8 to win from 6 balls. Two singles began the final over before Wilshaw whipped Richardson through mid-wicket for a vital boundary. He stepped across his stumps and pulled the next ball through the legside to secure a nail-biting 3-wicket victory. The travelling support erupted and Wilshaw celebrated by roaring to the heavens with joy. He finished unbeaten on 19 from just 12 balls, and played a gem of an innings for his side. Hem Heath battled hard throughout the innings and never gave up; they kept taking wickets and stayed in the game until the very end. Ali captured 2/24 with his left-arm spin, and Richardson again bowled superbly, taking 2/22, but it wasn’t to be Hem Heath’s day, and Meakins were the victors.
Hem Heath were once again fantastic hosts, and some wonderful cricket was played here throughout the day on a very good cricket wicket.
TCD’s man of the finals: Pete Wilshaw.
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