Kingfisher Beer Cup Review - Ealing Through After Thriller

The final delayed Kingfisher Beer Cup Third Round matches took place on Sunday 17th June and the majority of matches beat the weather to confirm the Group Finals line-up taking place next Sunday.

The closest match of the weekend took place at Corfton Road as Ealing CC of the Middlesex County Cricket League entertained Wimbledon CC of the Surrey Championship. After winning the toss the visitors chose to bat but the Ealing opening bowlers Harry Podmore and Chris Glasper tore through the Wimbledon top order to restrict them to 34-4.

This soon became 44-5 with the loss of Harin Marambe but the partnership of Ryamond de Passos and James Brown begun the rebuild the visitors innings. However the introduction of Chris Peploe into the Ealing bowling attack broke the partnership with the wicket of Brown and followed this up with two more, finishing with figures of 3-10 from 8 overs. Podmore returned to finish off the tail, himself taking 4-25 and Wimbledon were bowled out for just 103.

What looked like a modest total, Ealing started quickly and were soon 40-0 but both openers were dismissed with no runs added to the score. Wimbledon continued to take wickets with Neil Turk and Tim Monteleone restricting the home side, but at 95-4 Ealing looked comfortable needing just a further 9 for victory.

However 95-4 become 95-7 thanks to Turk and Moneleone and after Podmore was dismissed by Turk, who finished with figures of 4-26 and Steven Scott was run out, Ealing still required 2 to win from the last pair. With the pressure on the Ealing batsmen, the levelled the scores and then, in a very close run out call, just made it home to give the home side the win by 1 wicket.

In the North West another low scoring match Chorley CC overcame Leyland CC by 4 wickets, Leyland found themselves in all sorts of trouble losing their first six batsmen for single figures but a partnership between Henry Thompson and Thomas Murray took them to 95 all out with home bowler Chris Harty claiming impressive figures of 4-10 from his 9 overs. Chorley were comfortable in reply and despite losing wickets, extras top scored with 32 (including 24 wides) to see them home with nearly 20 overs remaining.

Best batting performance of the day was sadly in a losing cause as Firwood Bootle CC lost to Neston CC by 4 wickets. Michael Gill held together the Liverpool & District sides innings being dismissed last ball of the Firwood Bootle innings for 72 in their total of 167-9, Chris Hackett was the pick of the home sides bowlers with figures of 3-23.

Neston, of the Cheshire County League, had their first three batsmen make starts but were dismissed in the twenties or thirties, most of the damage done by David Snellgrove’s 3-21. 14 then proved to be a popular score for the Neston batsmen as the next three were dismissed on this total, but Andy Roberts 27 not out saw the hosts home for a place in the Group 7 Final against league rivals Chester Boughton Hall.

Tunbridge Wells CC just beat the weather to overcome fellow Kent Premier League side Bromley CC, Matthew Green’s 4-38 helped the visitors bowl out Bromley for 131, Tunbridge Wells ending up winning by 6 wickets with 9 overs to spare thanks to a patient 37 not out from Jamie Baldwin.

Farnworth CC of the Bolton League moved into the Group 6 Final after their 5 wicket win against Marple CC and Middlesex beat Essex as Harrow CC of the Middlesex Cricket League beat South Woodford CC of the Essex League by 24 runs.

Sunday 17th June sees the Group Finals taking place for a place in the National Stages of the Kingfisher Beer Cup.

RESULTS

Sunday 10th May - Third Round Matches

Windsor Park: Chorley 96-6 v Leyland 95 (C.Harty 4-10) – Chorley won by 4 wickets
Bridgeman Park: Farnworth 120-5 v Marple 119 – Farnworth won by 5 wickets
Parkgate: Neston 170-6 v Firwood Bootle 167-9 (M.Gill 72) – Neston won by 4 wickets
Payne’s Folly: Harrow 183-7 v South Woodford 159 – Harrow won by 24 runs
Corfton Road: Ealing 104-9 (N.Turk 4-26) v Wimbledon 103 (H.Podmore 4-25) – Ealing won by 1 wicket
Bromley CC: Bromley 131 (M.Green 4-38) v Tunbridge Wells 132-4 – Tunbridge Wells won by 6 wickets

FIXTURES

Sunday 17th June - Group Final (Fourth Round) Matches   

Barnt Green v Banbury
Blackpool v Chorley
Bridgwater v Bovey Tracey
Farnworth v Bamford Fieldhouse
Great Witchingham v Brentwood
Kidderminster Victoria v Walsall
Neston v Chester Boughton Hall
Ormskirk v Northern
South Wilts v Sully Centurions
Spencer v Havant
Teddington v Ealing
Tunbridge Wells v Hastings & St Leonards Priory
Wanstead & Snaresbrook v Harrow
West Indian Cavaliers v Ockbrook & Borrowash
York v Blaydon

Sunday 24th June - Group Final (Fourth Round) Match

Cuckney v Hanging Heaton