Title glory for VI team whilst Disabled CC play a thriller in Wales
Somerset VICC are celebrating this week.
The team remained unbeaten in the BCEW National League Division Two, to confirm their place as champions.
After last weekend’s fixtures, they found themselves 24 points clear of second placed Surrey.
Not only have they secured the title but they have also gained promotion back to Division One for the 2025 season.
Following the result, Somerset VICC Chair, Alan Mabey said: It was an amazing experience to finally claim our first National League trophy and to win Division Two. I’m really proud of everyone and it’s been a great effort from the whole squad throughout the season.”
Somerset Disabled CC travelled over the bridge and into Wales to finish their season.
After Wales beat Somerset at home, the visitors were looking for a bit of a better showing and potentially a win!
Wales won the toss and elected to bat.
The usual pairing of Colin Hancock and Charlie May opened the bowling for Somerset with Ciaran Williams and Dylan John opening the batting for Wales.
An attacking first two overs took the score to a quick 14 for Wales but it was yet again the sharp catching hands of Wilf Stirzaker off Hancock’s bowling that took the key wicket of John.
Mason Kerrison joined Williams in the middle. With Wales now pushing close to 50 runs it was Colin who struck again as ‘keeper George Fox-Reid took a nice catch behind the stumps in the seventh over.
A change of bowling saw Cameron Harris take over from Charlie May.
Colin bowled really well and struck with the last ball of the 11th over, with the catching hands of Wilf again.
This was also the last ball he could bowl of the game, not only as he had bowled his six allowed overs but also it was his third wicket of the game! He finished with stats of three for 31 off six overs.
Paul Lewis took over from Colin and with some tight bowling helped to slow down the scoring rate of the Wales side.
Kris Martin had taken over from Cameron Harris who had bowled his spell and bowled well. It was in the 22nd over that Kris struck twice in consecutive balls removing Harry Malone as George took his second catch of the game and then with the next ball a moment of the game occurred as Cian Davies pulled hard to the leg side and casually Cameron Harris stuck one hand out and took the catch!
The score was now 108 for five.
The 24th over brought another three wicket haul achieved as Toby Jones took a good catch off Kris Martin giving him his third of the game and finishing on stats of three for eight off 2.2 overs.
Charlie May came in to take over from Kris and with his first ball removed the bails of Harley Davidson.
Some quick fielding from Toby Jones led to the run out of Iuean Eaton in the 25th over and Charlie completed the innings with his first ball of the 26th over.
A great fielding and bowling display all round as Wales finished on 130 all out.
Somerset now began their chase. Kris Martin and Toby Jones took to the middle but it was the second ball of the second over when Toby was caught in the slips. Julian Bellew then took to the middle and helped to see off the opening bowling attack well. It was Davies who removed Julian in the 10th over. The score was now 22 for two and Somerset had work to do.
Wilf Stirzaker came to the middle and was caught in the 12th over and Charlie May took his place. Kris was bowled by Davies in the 14th over and George Fox-Reid took his place. Continued strong bowling from Wales removed George in the 16th over as the score now sat at 39 for five.
Cameron Harris took his place and this is where the Somerset batters really stepped up. Big hitting from both Charlie and Cameron brought boundaries and it took until the 24th over for Charlie to be run out, finishing on 18 off 38 balls. Connor Hyde joined Cameron.
The 26th over saw Cameron trapped LBW by John and Paul Lewis came to the middle.
Connor and Paul did their best to get the scoring completed but Somerset finished just short on 119 for seven in the 30 overs as the hosts won by just 11 runs.
A well played game by both sides and a great display from the Somerset side!
Match report supplied by Somerset Disabled CC