Southwell Cricket Club deserve chance to win rare silverware

A cricket club has the chance to win some silverware for the first time in 19 years on Saturday.

Southwell Cricket Club 1sts, who last celebrated a title in 2001 when they won Division A of the South Notts League, take on Bingham Cricket Club 1sts in the Division D Play-Off finals.

Bingham (222 for five) earned a spot in the final after a 13 run win over Keyworth (209 all out) while Southwell (133 for six) were four wicket winners against Hickling (130 all out).

Southwell captain Tom Clarke, who would have been two years old when his club last won a trophy, said the semi-final win was one of the best performances of the season.

“We bowled really, really well,” said Clarke.

“Fielding-wise, it might have even been our best performance.

“We turned up and restricted them to 130. Nobody (in bat) managed to get higher than 30 for them so it just shows how consistent we were.

“It was a good toss to lose because neither of us were confident on whether to bat or bowl.

“Their captain decided to bat and it couldn’t have gone better.”

Chasing 130, Southwell got off to a slow start losing Clarke on zero, while fellow opener Joe Fryer also went without a run.

“At 15 for three we were looking at each other thinking this isn’t ideal, and obviously they were very loud and fired up after their start,” said Clarke.

“But our batsman at four (Dan Stokes) and five (David Hedge) got a massive 73 partnership, which was a huge boost.

“We got a bit twitchy and lost a couple of late wickets because we were wary of the run rate and not as focussed as we should have been, but we got back on it and ticked through nicely to win comfortably in the end.”

Southwell were eventual winners in the 37th over.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Clarke said: “We beat Bingham in the league, but we know they are a good side and have some decent batters, so we are expecting a tough game.

“We are buzzing for it and I am confident we will be able to match them.”

Other club’s in the district also competed in their division’s respective semi-finals.

In Division B, Caythorpe 1sts (280 for four) cruised to the final with a 175 run win over Gedling Colliery (105 all out).

Caythorpe captain Gav King will hope to continue his good form in the final against Kimberley Institute, having hit 131 from 101 balls in the win over Gedling.

In the Division E play-offs, Farndon 1sts (106 all out) lost by 79 runs at Lowdham 1sts (185 for nine).

Lowdham will meet East Bridgford 1sts in the final after their 58 run over Flintham 1sts (145 all out).

Newark Ransome & Marles’ 2nds (115 all out) were defeated by 56 runs at Midlands 1sts (171 for eight) in the Division H play-offs and, in the Division J play-offs, Newark’s 3rd team (124 for eight) suffered the same fate, losing by eight runs to Kinoulton 2nds (132 for nine).

Saturdays finals will see the end of the shortened cricket season.