Broadstairs have booked their place in the ECB National Indoor Finals at Lord’s on Sunday 29th March after convincing victories over Belhus CC (Essex) and Burridge CC (Hampshire) in the London and East Regional Finals. Playing in the second of the semi-finals at the Kent Cricket Academy, Canterbury, Broadstairs posted a formidable total of 150 off their twelve overs, Andy Bailey top-scoring with 44*. Belhus never really got close to matching Broadstairs’ scoring rate and with half the innings gone, they had been restricted to 31-4. The match finished with Belhus on 68-4 and Matt Frewin the pick of the bowlers with 2-8 off his three overs and Andy Bailey featuring amongst the dismissals with two sharp stumpings.
After a brief break, Broadstairs faced Burridge CC who had overcome Purley-on-Thames in the earlier semi-final. Broadstairs lost the toss and were invited to bat first. The match got off to a somewhat disjointed start with Broadstairs finding themselves 18-0 off the first over with only three of those runs coming off the bat. By the end of the third over, the score had crept up to 26-1 with Andy Marshall replacing Matt Frewin at the crease. Andys Marshall and Bailey dug deep to get the innings back on track with some well-judged batting and running that settled some nerves that were starting to build among the spectators. In the end, their scores of 40* and 25 respectively, coupled with a further 34 runs from extras meant that Broadstairs reached the half-way stage with a total of 115 to defend.
The Burridge innings got off to a shaky start with three wickets lost in the first four overs. In the end, the Hampshire champions could muster just 59 runs before they were all out with wickets shared amongst Jamie Dewell (2), Matt Frewin (1), Harry Carter (1) and Chris Flint (1). Special mention goes to Harry Carter who supplemented his wicket with three catches and a run out.
Broadstairs now progress to the National Indoor Finals on Sunday March 29th at the home of cricket. This is the 4th time in seven years they have made it to Lord’s and this year, they will be determined to finally repeat their success of 1998, the only time they have lifted the trophy in seven previous attempts.
Updates on their progress at Finals Day will be posted on Twitter (@BroadstairsCC) throughout the day.