Kingfisher Beer Cup - Group Finals Preview

The Kingfisher Beer Cup moves into the Group Final stages this weekend as the remaining teams battle it out for a place in the National stages of the competition. Sunday 17th June sees 15 of the 16 matches taking place all over the country, hoping the weather is kinder to them than it has been for most of the season so far. The match at Cuckney CC, who play Hanging Heaton CC, will be taking place on Sunday 24th June, with all matches beginning at 1:00pm.

Home Counties Premier League and Kingfisher Beer Cup ‘Team of the Month’ side Banbury CC hope to continue their fine run in the competition so far by picking up another prize scalp in the form of Barnt Green CC of the Birmingham & District Premier League. Banbury have already seen off two-time competition winners Kibworth CC and Home Counties Premier League leaders High Wycombe CC in previous rounds so will be full of confidence going into Sunday’s Group 12 Final.

With both finalists from the 2011 final already knocked out, last season’s two losing semi-finalists will be fancying their chances in 2012. Ealing CC, who are also the current ECB National Club t20 champions, came through a final wicket nail-biter against Surrey Championship side Wimbledon CC last weekend and now face fellow Middlesex County League side Teddington CC in the Group 15 Final hoping that bowlers Harry Podmore and Chris Peploe can continue their good form.

West Indian Cavaliers CC, who are unbeaten in the Nottinghamshire Premier League so far this season, host Derbyshire Premier League side Ockbrook & Borrowash CC in the Group 3 Final, the Nottinghamshire side will be hoping their host of recognisable names (Alex Tudor, Saqlain Mushtaq and captain Usman Afzaal) will take them further than in 2011, when they were beaten in the semi-finals against eventually winner Shrewsbury CC.

Other notable Group Final matches include Southern Premier League leaders South Wilts CC hosting South Wales Premier League leaders Sully Centurions CC in the Group 9 Final, Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC, who are leading the way in the Sussex Premier League, travelling to Tunbridge Wells CC hoping their ground has dried out after their Kent Cricket Week wash out last week, and two other league leaders, Bridgwater CC from the West of England Premier League and Bovey Tracey from the Devon Premier League, go head to head at Bridgwater in the Group 10 Final.

Group 1    York v Blaydon   
Group 2    Cuckney v Hanging Heaton (24/06/12)
Group 3    West Indian Cav. v Ockbrook & Borrowash   
Group 4    Blackpool v Chorley   
Group 5    Ormskirk v Northern   
Group 6    Farnworth v Bamford Fieldhouse   
Group 7    Neston v Chester Boughton Hall   
Group 8    Kidderminster Victoria v Walsall   
Group 9    South Wilts v Sully Centurions  
Group 10    Bridgwater v Bovey Tracey
Group 11    Spencer v Havant
Group 12    Barnt Green v Banbury
Group 13    Great Witchingham v Brentwood
Group 14    Wanstead & Snaresbrook v Harrow
Group 15    Teddington v Ealing
Group 16    Tunbridge Wells v Hastings & SLP