The Grand Finals Night of the Ashfords Indoor Cricket League in Exeter saw two exciting games. In the Plate Final, Division 1 Champions Bovey Tracey looked like overwhelming Witheridge when they rushed to 79-1 at the halfway point of their innings, with Jamie Fulner (29) and Sam Wyatt Haines (21) in control. Enter Dan Coles with a devastating spell. He took a hat trick, including Devon captain Chris Bradley (25) to restrict the Moorlanders to 119 all out. Coles' final figures were 4-26 from his 3 overs.
Bovey bowled with venom from the start, Wyatt Haines taking two wickets in his first over, reducing Witheridge to 7-2. Skipper Russell Hilton (16) tried to repair the damage, but young Ben Roberts (2-21) kept tightening the screw. Wicket keeper Rob Sewell hit a belligerent 37 but Witheridge fell 27 runs short whenthey were dismissed in the last over. Wyatt Haines finished with 3-17.
As Division 1Winners Bovey Tracey will now represent the League in the Devon Final of the ECB National Indoor League Competition in February, with the chance of making the final at Lord's.
The second game was a real local derby, with Shobrooke Park playing Sandford in a Winner Takes all "Promotion Play Off and Peter Blight Cup Final". Sandford were unbeaten in the 2nd Division and Shobrooke had lost all their Division 1 league games. Given the close ties between these two sides, an exciting game was always on the cards.
Sandford batted first and all was going to plan with openers Luke Wright (22) and Ben Hancock (40*) taking the score past 60 at the halfway stage. It was the introduction of part time bowler Jon James that swung things towards The Park. He took pace off the ball and conceded 21 in his 3 overs, taking 2 wickets. Supported by Dan Pyle who also only went for 21, Sandford reached 113-4, short of where they would like to have been.
Richard Pyle (16) and Justin Dollow (21) got Shobrooke off to a start, although wickets fell regularly. Wright was the pick of the Sandford bowlers with 2-23. There where what proved to be a crucial number of extras, 42 in total. With 3 overs to go Shobrooke still needed 15 to win with only last man Andrew Steer left. He kept his head and scored the winning run with 4 balls to spare.
So Division 1 cricket again next season for Shobrooke, along with the cup trophy. Consolation for Sandford was the Division 2 trophy.
Trophies were presented by Stephen Walker of Ashford's LLP Tiverton, who also presented a sponsorship cheque to the league. Ashford's have been loyal supporters of the league for many seasons.
Bovey bowled with venom from the start, Wyatt Haines taking two wickets in his first over, reducing Witheridge to 7-2. Skipper Russell Hilton (16) tried to repair the damage, but young Ben Roberts (2-21) kept tightening the screw. Wicket keeper Rob Sewell hit a belligerent 37 but Witheridge fell 27 runs short whenthey were dismissed in the last over. Wyatt Haines finished with 3-17.
As Division 1Winners Bovey Tracey will now represent the League in the Devon Final of the ECB National Indoor League Competition in February, with the chance of making the final at Lord's.
The second game was a real local derby, with Shobrooke Park playing Sandford in a Winner Takes all "Promotion Play Off and Peter Blight Cup Final". Sandford were unbeaten in the 2nd Division and Shobrooke had lost all their Division 1 league games. Given the close ties between these two sides, an exciting game was always on the cards.
Sandford batted first and all was going to plan with openers Luke Wright (22) and Ben Hancock (40*) taking the score past 60 at the halfway stage. It was the introduction of part time bowler Jon James that swung things towards The Park. He took pace off the ball and conceded 21 in his 3 overs, taking 2 wickets. Supported by Dan Pyle who also only went for 21, Sandford reached 113-4, short of where they would like to have been.
Richard Pyle (16) and Justin Dollow (21) got Shobrooke off to a start, although wickets fell regularly. Wright was the pick of the Sandford bowlers with 2-23. There where what proved to be a crucial number of extras, 42 in total. With 3 overs to go Shobrooke still needed 15 to win with only last man Andrew Steer left. He kept his head and scored the winning run with 4 balls to spare.
So Division 1 cricket again next season for Shobrooke, along with the cup trophy. Consolation for Sandford was the Division 2 trophy.
Trophies were presented by Stephen Walker of Ashford's LLP Tiverton, who also presented a sponsorship cheque to the league. Ashford's have been loyal supporters of the league for many seasons.
