Jordy Taylor hits unbeaten 97 to lead Swardeston to victory.
Report by Kevin Denmark
Photos by Dale Clarke
By virtue of their victory at Mildenhall the previous day Swardeston were declared North Group champions and faced their counterparts Sawston & Brabaham from the South group in the winners play-off match held at the same venue on a glorious autumn day.
Swardeston were without the services of their influential Captain Joe Gatting but needn’t have worried where, under the leadership of vice-captain Lewis Denmark, they put in a commanding performance, bowling out their opponents for a disappointing total of 162 using only 38.2 overs of their allocated 50 in the process.
In reply victory never looked in doubt as the target was achieved in the 43rd over for the loss of only two wickets.
Batting first Sawston never got into any sort of rhythm with wickets falling at regular intervals with the only real resistance coming from Callum Guest who battled for 73 balls for his 44 but when he was seventh out, bowled by Alex Levinson, with the total 141 in the 33rd over any hopes of setting a challenging total quickly disappeared.
Leading the way for the bowlers was Callum Taylor with 3-23 from 7.5 overs with 17-year-old Toby Duncan also taking 3 wickets for 44 from 10 overs. Taylor also picked up three stunning catches including the dangerous Hussain from the bowling of Joe Flatt with the whole of the Swardeston team impeccable in the field.
Jordan Taylor made it a memorable day for the Taylor family as he carried his team to victory with a chanceless innings of 97 not out made from 132 balls including 12 fours.
He received excellent support from Alfie Cooper who made 22 and Stephen Gray who finished 23 not out as Sawston used a succession of nine bowlers but were never able to make the necessary in roads.
League Secretary Andy Abbott presented Lewis Denmark with the COVID Cup and thanked everybody who had made the truncated competition possible in such difficult and testing circumstances over the summer.
