Colwall edge Redbourn in The Cricketer Village Cup final thriller

The Herefordshire club have won the competition for the first time, defeating Redbourn by six runs at Lord’s

Colwall 229 for 6 beat Redbourn 223 for 5 by 6 runs

Scorecard

Photo: Aaron Parsons Photography

Colwall of Herefordshire have won The Cricketer Village Cup for the first time after a six-run win against Redbourn of Hertfordshire at Lord’s.

They were inspired by Ben Febery, who took an outstanding catch to dismiss Conor Yorath before taking the key wickets of Edward Hales and Daniel Roe.

Batting first, Colwall made an impressive 229 for 6. Richard Howitt scored 58 before Benjamin Wheeler, the Man of the Match, smashed 72 off just 33 deliveries.

In reply, it looked like Hales was going to be the match-winner as he hit 119 off just 83 balls. It is the third-highest individual score in Village Cup final history.

But after his departure, the runs dried up and Colwall managed to secure a narrow win thanks to some economical bowling.

The atmosphere at the final was very different from that of yesteryear. There were no distinguished members, no attractions around the ground and, most notably, no partisan villagers cheering the teams on.

Yet the allure of Lord’s was not diminished. The pavilion was as grand as ever, Father Time was still watching the action unfold and the new stand, dwarfing the media centre, is an immense edition. Cricket’s greatest theatre now feels as modern as any.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Colwall’s openers Oliver Cox and Ben Cooke made their way to the middle. And it was the teenager Cox who struck the first blow, hitting a boundary in the first over.

Cox’s shot was met with rapturous applause from the Colwall balcony, although there were far bigger cheers from Redbourn’s end when Daniel Darvell bowled him for 4 in the next over.

Colwall began to fight back as Howitt joined Cooke at the crease. Both batsmen hit boundaries and it looked like a partnership may blossom. But Yorath, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, had other ideas. He dismissed Cooke for 11 to re-establish Redbourn’s dominance.

At 24 for 2, Colwall needed a partnership if they wanted to be victorious. And Howitt, a former 2nd XI county player, was not departing anytime soon. He hit the first six of the innings, a brutal, flat effort into the empty Grandstand off the bowling off Callum Moyle.

That boundary settled the innings down as Howitt and Fergus Cameron got to work. They watched the ball closely, putting away the few bad deliveries.

As the score ticked on to 93 for 2 just after the half-way point, the batting side had put themselves in a good position. Redbourn needed a wicket – and they got one as Joshua Arnold enticed Cameron into a big shot. He holed out for 23.

But the man they really wanted to dismiss was Howitt, who reached his half-century in the 28th over. His new partner Abel also made an impressive start, racing to 20 at almost a run a ball. He was a bit too confident, however, as he was bowled by Darvell for 21 while trying to play a paddle shot.

Colwall had reached 138 for 4 after 30 overs and with Howitt set on 54, they had every chance of posting 200 or more. But they suffered a set back as Darvell bowled Howitt for 58.

The batting side continued to press on through Wheeler, a 2nd XI player at Herefordshire, who was finding the boundary rope. His efforts pushed the run rate above five an over and he was thundering along to his half-century, reaching 49 off just 26 balls.

A big score was now on the cards, but then came some excellent bowling. Yorath dismissed Ben Febery for 7 and his replacement Andrew Robertson struggled to score off Hugh Craig’s sharp deliveries.

Although Wheeler reached his half-century off just 27 deliveries and Colwall brought the 200 up, they managed just five runs off the 38th and 39th overs.

But the fireworks returned in the final over as Wheeler smashed Craig for three maximums, using the bowler’s pace to his advantage. He finished unbeaten on 72 as Colwall posted 229 for 6 – the seventh-highest score in Village Cup final history.

Yorath was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with tidy figures of 2 for 23 off his eight overs. Darvell was also impressive as he picked up a three-for.

^{Ben Wheeler smashed 72 off just 33 deliveries}

Opening the batting for Redbourn were brothers Edward and William Hales – and Edward toasted the moment by smashing a six off the first ball. He was almost dismissed the very next ball, however, as he chipped it towards point, just missing the diving fielder.

From those first two balls, it was obvious how Edward Hales was going to play. He continued to tally up the boundaries, helping them reach 50 inside six overs. Colwall needed a wicket.

The man to get the breakthrough was Howitt as William Hales played a loose shot straight to midwicket. The tournament’s third-highest run-scorer was gone for 11. But his brother carried on scoring, reaching his half-century off just 33 deliveries.

Next man in Yorath made just 2 before a stunning catch ended his stay. After slicing a Luke Dalley delivery high into the sky, Fereby, with the ball swirling behind him, somehow kept hold of it as he made an ambitious dive. Redbourn were 77 for 2.

Some economical bowling brought Colwall back into the tie, but the chasers already had an advantage thanks to their excellent start. They kept on putting away any opportunities they got as the target got closer.

The skipper brought up the team’s century with a huge six into the Grandstand, much to the delight of his teammates. Yet he was lucky to survive a strong lbw appeal shortly after, the umpire judging it to be high.

Hales then brought up a ton of his own, reaching the landmark off just 75 deliveries to become the sixth man to score a century in a Village Cup final. But after a few more big shots he was gone for 119, Febery the man to make the crucial breakthrough.

And that proved to be a turning point as the runs dried up. From needing 70 off 86, Redbourn found themselves needing 55 off 48. It was game on.

Daniel Roe was the next to depart for 32 off the bowling of Febery, who was beginning to put in a match-winning performance. Colwall were squeezing the life out of Redbourn’s innings.

A cameo from Steven Richards added 20 to the board and kept the chasers in the game, but when he departed in the penultimate over, they required 11 off the final six deliveries. They were unable to get those runs as Robertson conceded just four.

It was an excellent bowling display from Febery and Michael Gooch, who between them conceded just 15 off six overs in the middle of the innings. Robertson will also be delighted for holding his nerve when it really mattered.

The result left Colwall captain James Wagstaff to lift the trophy, capping off an excellent day of cricket at Lord’s.

The Cricketer is extremely grateful to Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for accommodating the final despite the challenging circumstances. We would also like to thank our loyal sponsors: Pipers Crisps, ExtraCover Insurance, Bola.

The livestream was operated by FrogBox, a division of InteractSport. Watch highlights of the match here