Npower Village Knockout Cup - Group Semi Final Report

On Sunday, Stalbridge easily beat Winterslow in the Dorset-Wilts section semi-final of the ECB nPower National Village Knockout Cup at The Park. Following last week’s disappointing first loss of the season in their top of the table league clash with Dorchester, the north Dorset side had regained their form with a comfortable victory against Broadstone on the Saturday (Broadstone 171 all out, Stalbridge 172 for 3). Confidence was therefore restored as they prepared to face the visiting Wiltshire side in the village competition, albeit that little was known about the strength of the opposition.

Once again, skipper Mark Chant defied the laws of averages, chance and statistics in yet again contriving to lose the toss, and Winterslow elected to bat on what looked like being a very good batting wicket.

As in the previous round of the competition, pace bowler Steve ‘nice slower ball’ Forshaw struck early, claiming a wicket in only his second over. With his opening partner Rob ‘jug avoidance’ Burfitt also picking up the scalp of the other opening batsman, Winterslow were soon well on the back foot. Runs were proving difficult to come by, as the Stalbridge attack maintained the pressure with good disciplined bowling. Change bowlers Mike Burfitt and the sprightly spinner Andy Dike were soon in the wickets too, before Mark Chant finished off the Wiltshire side’s innings with a fine spell of 4 wickets for 10 runs. This left a very modest total of 64 for the Stalbridge batsmen to chase to secure a place in the Dorset-Wilts section final.

The Stalbridge reply featured the talented Burfitt brothers opening up, and they set off at a quick run rate in pursuit of victory. After threatening to finish the game themselves, Mike was out caught and bowled. However, incoming batsman James Scooby MacPherson (22 not out) didn’t take long to set into the Winterslow bowling with some aggressive shots, as he and Rob Burfitt (15 not out) reached the required total in only the ninth over, with tea not yet having been taken.

After a satisfying weekend of results, Stalbridge now look their next game in the village knockout. In what will undoubtedly be a much tougher test, they travel to Goatacre near Swindon for the Dorset-Wilts section final on Sunday 24th June. The victorious team will then progress to meet the winners from the Cornwall section of the draw.