Npower Village Knockout Cup - Group Final Report

Stalbridge v Goatacre

In one of the most exciting finishes ever seen at The Park, Stalbridge triumphed over former national village champions Goatacre by the narrowest possible margin of 1 run in the Group Final of the nPower Village Cup.

Put into bat in blustery, overcast conditions, Stalbridge got off to the worst possible start losing Mike Burfitt in the first over.  Wickets continued to fall against a bowling attack tailor made for the conditions, and at 67-8 with just 9 overs of the innings remaining, Stalbridge’s hopes of posting a decent total looked remote.  However, Simon Miles made the most of having been dropped before he had scored and, in partnership with Ashley Clarke, put on 44 for the ninth wicket.  Miles eventually finished on 43 not out, including 2 sixes and a four, in a final total of 120-9.  Ran Heer returned the excellent figures of 3-9 from his 9 over spell.

In reply, Goatacre got off to a rapid start reaching 40-1 from the first 10 overs before spinners Andy Dike and Mark Chant put the brakes on proceedings.  By the end of their respective spells Goatacre had been reduced to 91-6, Dike returning 2-32 and Chant 2-19, and the game was evenly poised.  Danger man Jon Wilkins had crucially been run out for 29 by a Rob Burfitt direct hit.  Goatacre continued to within 11 runs of victory before pacemen Steve Forshaw and Rob Burfitt struck with a wicket each.  Mike Burfitt then made up for his earlier duck by removing the last two batsmen, taking a skied catch off his own bowling to take the final wicket with the visitors an agonising 1 run short of levelling the scores.

Stalbridge host Cornish champions Perranarworthal in the 1st National Round at The Park on Sunday 8th July at 2.30p.m.