Cricket East

Local Hunts League team Bretton and Cambs Whiting Division 2 team Biggleswade are out of the ECB 2023 National Indoors Tournament after the Regional Finals last Sunday.

Biggleswade (representing Bedfordshire) won their semi final against Ashton Under Hill from Worcestershire, but then lost in the Regional Final against Cherry Willingham from Lincoln.

Cherry Willingham reached the Regional Final after defeating Hunts 2 team Bretton.

The competition was 12 overs a side, 3 overs max a bowler with batsman retiring when they get 25 and then recycling back in order.

In the first semi final Biggleswade were in early trouble at 26-3 but a brilliant 60 from opener Jimmy Hart pushed them up to 108 all out from 11.3 overs. In reply, Ashton Under Hill started brightly taking 14 from the first over and being 30-1 from 3 overs. However, some excellent tight bowling in the middle overs saw Ashton chewing up a lot of dot balls and they closed out on 103-4 from 12 overs, seeing Biggleswade win by 5 runs.

The second Regional Final was a battle for persistent indoor league winners. Bretton (representing Hunts) have won their indoor competition 10 times in the last 25 years, while Cherry Willingham (representing Lincolnshire) have won the highly competitive Lincoln Indoor League for the last 10 years. However, both clubs knew that they would not have a shot at the National ECB Tournament next year as both Bretton and Cherry Willingham have finished as runners up in their respective leagues which have just recently finished.

Bretton won the toss and batted first and despite a promising start made 71 all out from 9.4 overs. Mark Drake top scored with 23 and he can count himself very unlucky to be dismissed as he was captured by a brilliant caught and bowled from Cherry Willingham opening bowler Finlay Keal. Middle order batsman Ryan Evans offered most support for Drake scoring 19.
In reply, Cherry found runs hard to come by as opening bowlers father and son Andy and Ethan Bennett bowled well. It was son Ethan Bennett who made the breakthrough with wicket keeper Gary Bennett taking a smart catch. However, regrettably for Bretton that was the only breakthrough as Cherry Willingham got home by 5 wickets with 15 balls remaining. AK11 will represent Huntingdonshire in the 2024 National ECB Indoor Tournament after recently winning this year’s Hunts Indoor League.

Bretton: Andy Bennett (Captain), Gary Bennett (WK), Ethan Bennett, Neil Buckingham, Mark Drake and Ryan Evans.

The Regional Indoor Final stakes were simple. Whoever won was heading to Lords this Sunday (2nd April) to play in National Finals Day. Cherry Willingham had reached the National Indoor Finals Day before but that was 8 years ago back in Spring 2015.

Biggleswade made a change for the final with the injured Tom Boyd being replaced by Adam Dagless. Biggleswade won the toss and decided to bowl first. Consistent batting from the Cherry Willingham batsman saw Cherry post 119-3 from 12 overs, with Dagless being the tightest bowler on show having figures of 1-17 from his 3 overs with his wicket being an outstanding caught and bowled.

Chasing 120 to reach Lords, Biggleswade were in early trouble at 20-2. A partnership developed between wicket keeper batsman Joe Randall (23) and Ross Fensome(14). However, 2 excellent run outs followed and despite 14 from number 6 batsman James Gauge the innings closed at 70 all out from 8 overs. Cherry Willingham won by 49 runs, with 24 balls remaining and will return to Lords this Sunday.

Biggleswade: Ross Fensome (CPT), Joe Randall (WK), Jimmy Hart, James Gauge, Malc Edwards, Adam Dagless, Tom Boyd.

ECB NATIONAL INDOOR FINALS DAY – SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 2023 AT LORDS INDOOR CENTRE, LONDON.

11.00am – 1st Semi Final – Neyland (Wales) v University of Kent (Kent)
12.45pm - 2nd Semi Final – Cherry Willingham (Lincs) v Sheffield University CC (Yorkshire)
2.45pm - 2023 National Indoor Final