Seniors’ sides set for national semi-finals

TWO Suffolk Seniors’ sides are playing in national semi-finals this week.

The Over-60s 2nd XI are away to Sussex in the Vase at Buxted Park CC on Tuesday, while the Over-70s are away to Hertfordshire at Langleybury CC in the National 70+ County Cricket Championship on Thursday.

Their appearances in national semi-finals follow that of the Girls’ Under-18 side last week.

Over-70s

Suffolk finished third in the national league behind Wales and Cheshire in the group stages of the competition.

They won nine and lost just one of their ten matches against Bedfordshire, Essex, Kent, Lincolnshire/Yorkshire Ridings and Norfolk.

Suffolk, whose only defeat came away to Kent, then defeated Sussex in the last 16 and Berkshire/Buckinghamshire in the quarter-finals at Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC to reach the last four.

Captain Neil Hames scored two centuries so far, with Ray Black and Peter Boughton making one apiece.

Ken Jones took 4 for 21 versus Lincolnshire/Yorkshire Ridings and twice claimed three wickets against Essex, while Hames, Peter Webb and Peter Christie have also taken three wickets in a match.

If Suffolk reach the final they will face either Kent or Surrey on Thursday, September 15th at a venue to be confirmed.

Captain Hames said: “It has been a team performance, the real stand-out feature has been the team’s ability to chase any score we have been set; on various occasions we have chased eight runs an over in last 20 overs.

“Undoubtedly our best performance was in the quarter final where we were chasing a target of 277 to win in 45 overs. We lost early wickets and were 40 for 4 but eventually reached 280 for 5 with an over to spare, with Peter Boughton hitting an unbeaten 107, Ken Jones 62 and David Hinchcliffe an unbeaten 49.

“As we have only lost one game this season against Kent, who we beat in the reverse match, we go into any game with the belief we can win against any opposition.”

Over-60s

Suffolk finished third in the East group of the main competition by 0.33 of a point to go into the Vase, which they won in 2020 by beating Buckinghamshire in the final.

In the quarter-final of this season’s competition Suffolk beat Middlesex by 26 runs at Ipswich CC to reach the semi-finals.

Suffolk scored 275 for 4 in their 45 overs, with Steve Bumphrey scoring 68, Eddie Green 64, Andrew Harrison 56 and Pat Patel 43.

They then restricted Middlesex to 249 for 8, with Messent taking three wickets and Andrew Norburn two.

If Suffolk can overcome Sussex they will play Warwickshire or Gloucestershire in the final on September 13th at a venue to be confirmed.

Slipper Steve Bulger said: “After a difficult start to the league season, due to bowler shortages, we won four out of our last five games, scoring 1,264 run at a cost of 25 wickets at an average of 50.56 runs per wicket!

“Our batsmen mentioned above along with Rob Collett have scored most of the runs. Over the weeks our bowling has improved by using two over-70s bowlers, our main bowlers Malcolm Grubb, Andy Norburn, John Morgan and myself have played in every game this season.

“All our players are looking forward to the semi-final which we have a good chance of winning.”

Girls’ Under-18s

Suffolk Girls Under-18 lost by 117 runs in their national semi-final to Devon at Grantham CC last Wednesday.

Devon scored 259 for 5 in their 40 overs, with Evie Booker taking 3 for 44 and Poppy Sidhu 2 for 27.

Suffolk were then bowled out for 142 in 31.5 overs in reply, Sophie Singer top-scoring with 46 and Immy Sidhu contributing 25.

In a rain-reduced third and fourth place play-off match versus North East Warriors the following day, Suffolk posted 92 for 6 off 16 overs, with Sophie Singer scoring 22 and Evie Booker 19.

However, North East Warriors reached their target in just 11.1 overs to win by nine wickets, Amelie Clarke taking the only wicket to fall.

Suffolk Over-60s 2^nd XI are pictured above. Back row (left to right): Clive Heaps, Ed Green, Pat Patel, Rob Collett, Rob Jenkin, Andy Norburn, Andy Foreman. Front row: Steve Bumphrey, Derrick Messent, Andy Harrison, Steve Bulger (captain) Malcolm Grubb.

Tags: Over-60s, Over-70s, Seniors

Categorised in: Suffolk CCC