Sudbrook clear final hurdle in ECB indoor sixes

Sudbrook CC, semi-finalists in both 2000 and 2001, defeated reigning champions Madisons from Northamptonshire in tense final of the ECB Indoor Six-a-Side Championship at Lord's.

The Welsh Champions, electing to bat first in the Final at the MCC's Indoor School, built up a formidable score with three of the first batsmen each being forced to retire having reached an individual score of 25.

Andrew Harris was caught at mid-off from a miss-timed drive for 22, the first and only wicket falling at 113. Despite coming together for just the last over, Robert Voke and Ian O'Leary kept the scoring rate going with 13 as Sudbrook reached 126 for one from their allotted 12 overs.

Madisons were seeking to become the first club to successful defend their title, but after a bright start they lost four wickets in three overs to reach 64 for four after the seventh over. Two wickets for Ian O'Leary, one from captain Mark O'Leary and a direct hit run out by Voke firmly put the initiative in Sudbrook's favour.

When Marcus Steed was clean bowled to give Mark O'Leary his second wicket, Madisons, at 77 for five, looked dead and buried. However, experienced captain Richard Dalton set about trying to recover a lost situation and with a combination of finely placed shots began chipping away at the lead.

He survived one chance and took the game into the last over requiring 12 runs to win. A four from the first ball kept the tension high. One run came from the second ball and Dalton seemed to have gained another life as a hard off drive from the next was palmed by Voke but Carl Morgan reacted like lighting to dive and complete a caught and bowled to give Sudbrook victory by six runs. Richard Dalton scored 44 and added 43 runs for the last wicket.

Bob Cherry, Chairman of the ECB Clubs & Leagues Sub-Group, presented the trophy to Mark O'Leary and mementoes to each of the two finalists, the scorers and umpires. Ian O'Leary was named as the Player of the Day for his record bowling performance of being the first player to take four wickets in an innings at the National Finals, and following this up with 2-27 in the Final.

Sudbrook wicketkeeper Ross Lewis won the Fielder of the Day Award for a fine performance including two stumpings and two catches standing up.

Semi-Finals:
Sudbrook 80 for 0 (Mark O'Leary 25ret) beat Walkden 79 for 5 (Richard Slater 42 not out, Ian O'Leary 4 for 13) by 6 wickets

Madisons 83 for 3 (Rob Williams 26ret, David Hawkes 24 not out) beat Canterbury 82 for 6 by 3 wickets

Final:
Sudbrook 126 for 1 (R Lewis26ret, C Morgan 26ret) beat Madisons 120 (R Dalton 44) by 6 runs