Over-70s fall short in Vase final

September 6, 2025

SUFFOLK Over-70s fell 35 runs short in their bid to win the national Vase competition.

Facing defending national champions Middlesex at Banbury CC on Thursday, Suffolk made a great start to whip out the top four batsmen with just 45 on the board from 16 overs. Then rain fell heavily and the players left the field.

On resumption Danny Richards (75 not out) and Keith Alexander (48 not out) added a further 135 without being parted as Middlesex closed on 180 for 4 from their allotted 40 overs.

The most successful Suffolk bowlers were Malcolm Grubb (2 for 16), Dave Hinchcliffe (1 for 20) and Peter Christie (1 for 15).

More rain fell during the tea interval and Suffolk made a poor start to their reply. Hinchcliffe, who scored an unbeaten 74 in the semi-final win over Norfolk, was run out from his first ball faced and two lbw decisions left them struggling at 57 for 5 off 20 overs.

Steve Bulger (35) rebuilt the innings with Grubb (23), who then added a further 42 with Rob Jenkin (22) to take the reply to 134 before he was seventh man out.

Having won with an amazing run chase in the league encounter at Harrow, Suffolk still had hope, but this time the innings fell away to 145 all out.

Suffolk had outplayed old rivals Norfolk to win by seven wickets in a rain-affected finish in their semi-final at Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC.

Suffolk had to win the last two matches of their 12-game league section to grab the final place in the second-tier Vase competition – and then won away to ninth-placed Surrey in the quarter-finals.

Norfolk struggled to put up a competitive total after losing star batsman Randolph Lofthouse to the first ball of their innings when he nicked behind off Dave Hinchcliffe.

Geoff Roper top-scored with 88 but Peter Webb (4 for 28), Steve Bulger (2 for 16) and Rob Jenkin (2 for 11) wrapped up the tail with just 182 on the board.

Hinchcliffe (74 not out) then led the way to 149 for 3 off 32 overs when rain stopped play. Suffolk were 35 runs ahead on the DLS system when the captains shook hands on the result.

Suffolk’s hopes for a national title move on to the Over-60s 2nd XI, who take on Bedfordshire at Chobham in their Vase final on Tuesday.

 

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