Charles Randall
12 August 2014
Sunbury's hopes of reaching two major finals this summer were dashed in a rain-reduced 12-over match at Bromley. Already in the semi-final of the National Club Championship, they fell by 29 runs in The Conference Cup, sponsored by Barbados & Smile Group Travel
The previous Sunday's exciting three-wicket victory over Frocester in the Royal London Club National boosted Sunbury's momentum, and Bromley had found form in round three of the Conference Cup when Grant Basey hit 149, held two catches and took the final wicket in a 63-run win over Colchester & East Essex. But last weekend's quarter-final tussle became something of a lottery when rainstorms intervened.
Bromley made 96-8 off their 12 overs, thanks to a quick-fire 41 by the former Essex and Surrey left-hander Richard Clinton. It raised a target beyond Sunbury after the early run-out of John Maunders. Then Oliver Roland-Jones, brother of the Middlesex seamer Toby, was stumped – he had smashed 80 off 40 balls in a recent league match – and wickets tumbled. scorecard
On 17 August, Bromley visit the 2013 beaten finalists Blackheath for their Conference Cup semi-final, having lost to them recently by seven wickets in the Kent League. Aston Rowant, from the Home Counties League, have a postponed home tie against Reigate Priory, the run-away Surrey Championship leaders. The final has been arranged for Ealing CC on bank holiday Monday, 25 August. (results of previous Rounds here)
The National Championship semi-finals are scheduled for 31 August when Sunbury host Brentwood, from the Essex League, in front of what will be a sizeable crowd at Kenton Court. Chorley, the last club to retain the title in 1994 and 1995, meet previous winners Sandiacre Town.
Brentwood, one of the big influences in the Conference Cup these days, surged impressively into the national last four with an eight-wicket win against Sussex League side Hastings & St Leonards Priory, who made 183. Club Cricket Conference left-hander Jonathan Walford anchored the Brentwood reply with 66 not out as Tom Oakley and Aaron West weighed in with fifties.
Having reached The Conference Cup final in 2012 and the semi-finals in 2013, Brentwood have acquired good experience in top level cup-fighting as they prepare for their National last-four debut. A total of 256 clubs entered, and the final this year will be played at the redeveloped Gloucestershire county ground at Bristol on 14 September.
Chorley probably installed themselves as favourites by demolishing York, the 2012 champions, by seven wickets in bowler-friendly conditions. York chose to bat and were shot out for 107, with Chris Harty and Billy Smith taking three wickets each.
Sandiacre Town, of the Derbyshire Premier League, beat Northern, from the Liverpool & District Premier League, by 24 runs. Rob Cook, with 80, revived the Sandiacre innings after the loss of three early wickets, and their total of 181 proved to be enough. They will have to excel at Chorley if they are to repeat their 2003 success, when Lord's still hosted the final.
Lord's-bound are the Oxfordshire club Little & Great Tew, as on 7 September they meet the Yorkshire powerhouses Woodhouse Grange in the final of the Davidstow Village Cup. Tew, from the Cherwell League, will be making their first appearance after defeating Dinton by nine wickets, whereas Woodhouse return for the sixth time, having won the title twice before.