Sheppey Spitfires v Upchurch - Cup Final Report

The Swale U15s League reached its conclusion last night (Monday 11th August) as the Cup Final between joint league champions Upchurch CC and Sheppey Spitfires CC at Bapchild CC. The match was a tightly contested affair with Sheppey running out winners with just three balls remaining.

Upchurch won the toss and elected to bat and started off well with openers Jimmy Collins (20 runs) and Sam Bewick (9)putting on 38 off 7 overs until Sheppey took 3 quick wickets to reduce Upchurch to 39 -3. But Upchurch middle order continued to score at a healthy rate - Bradley Barrett (15), Dan Overbury (16), and Tom Moore (21) but lost wickets on a regular basis, the wickets fell to Joe Sands (3-22), Jim Glover (1-20), Oliver Thatcher (1-12) and Kevin Cunningham (1-15) and special mention should go to Elliott McEntire who did not take a wicket but had two chances dropped off his bowling and only went for 8 runs off his three overs. Upchurch finished on 109-7.

In reply Sheppey CC batted well to keep up with the required rate until Joe Sands (15) fell to a good ball. Aaron Walker (35) and Jordan Connor (32) batted well until two brilliant run outs by Upchurch captain and wicket keeper Jimmy Collins removed both Connor and Jim Glover (0). Walker was then bowled by Barrett with another 11 required off just 11 balls. This brought Oliver Thatcher and Kevin Cunningham to the crease in very dark conditions who then ran two singles to reduce the ask to 9 runs from 9 balls, and then two leg side glances for successive boundaries by Thatcher tied the scores and it was perhaps fitting that captain Cunningham faced the last over in darkness knowing only a single was required which was achieved off the third ball despite valiant fielding from Upchurch.He led from the front as he has done all season.

A superb game of cricket between two excellent sides and witnessed by a large crowd that could have gone either way was won by the smallest of margins.


Match report, courtesy of James Thatcher.

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