Swardeston - Norfolk T20 champions, now EAPL T20 champions
Swardeston took another huge step in their defence of their national ECB national club T20 title last night.
They ran out winners by three wicket at Mildenhall against Cambridge Granta in the EAPL play-off.
Granta batted first and were 110 all out from their full 20 overs.
Skipper Jason Coleman top scored for the Cambridge side but again it was the spin attack of George Walker, Jaden Hatwell and Richard Sims which did most damage. Hatwell and Sims picked up three wickets each, Walker two and there was one each for Michael Eccles and Mark Thomas. Dale Reynolds held two catches and added a run-out to his name.
In reply Swardeston lost Thomas early on and with the socre on 18 Sims also departed. Hatwell and Peter Lambert then added 31 before Lambert was dismissed for 18.
The came the decisive partmership of the game as Hatwell and Ian Tufts put on 51 to take Swardeston to the brink of victory.
However Hatwell’s departure for 41 on 100 heralded a Swardeston wobble. Tufts was dismissed for 26 without an addition to the total and Dan Martin and Ed Hopkins also fell in the search for victory.
Norfolk skipper Walker finally settled Swardeston nerves by hitting the first ball of the final over for six to seal the victory.
You can view the scorecard here.
Swardeston now go through to the area final and are just two rounds away from defending their tile at national finals day on September 19 at the Ford County Ground, Chelmsford – the home of the Essex Eagles.
According to the ECB website the national stages of the competition begin with Area Finals scheduled for August 14. Eight area champions will progress to Regional Finals on Sunday August 28 or Monday 29 – from which four regional champions will book their places at the National Finals Day on Monday September 19.
Broadcast live on Sky Sports the Barbados Cockspur t20 finals day will mirror the format of the Friends Life t20 competition with two semi-finals and the final under floodlights. Each participating team will be provided with bespoke branded coloured clothing courtesy of DMS Sports.
Meanwhile the ECB last week announced that the Barbados Tourist Authority are the new sponsors of the competition. Read more here
