Finals Day a great success...
On Monday 28th August 2017, Redbourn Cricket Club hosted the Under 19 T20 Finals Day. The competition is a great way of trying to keep youngsters in the game, by trying to recreate the exciting competition we all see on our TV screens each year with the NatWest Blast.
This year, 14 teams took part in the competitions group stages. Huge thanks to all the teams listed in their groups below for taking part and embracing this years competition.
West Group
Dunstable Daredevils
Kings Langley Lightning
Hemel Hempstead
Chorleywood Cougars
Redbourn Unicorns
South Group
Radlett Renegades
Harpenden Heat
St Albans Sharks
Abbots Langley
Shenley Village
East Group
Bishop Stortford Sabres
Hertford Stags
Sawbridgeworth
Hoddesdon
From these Three groups, Four clubs could qualify for the Finals Day, three via winning their group and one club as best points/net run rate runner up.
From the Three groups our Four 2017 Finalists were
Radlett Renegades (Winners of the South Group)
Redbourn Unicorns (Winners of the West Group)
Hertford Stags (Winners of the East Group)
Harpenden Heat (Best runners up)
Finals Day was hosted by Redbourn Cricket Club, who put on a fantastic show with banners all around the ground, BBQ going throughout the day, the Bar open, and huge amount of support from the cricket loving locals.
The ground looked a picture and the pitch was a belter as we were all set for the two Semi Finals.
First up was Hertford Stags Vs Harpenden Heat. Hertford won the toss electing to bat, and posted 147 with impressive innings from Hugh Cavener and Benji Cowell.
Harpenden got off to a fantastic start which ultimately decided the game as Man of the Match Euan Stewart hit a quickfire 50 before Harpenden reached the total with overs to spare.
The second Semi Final took place around 1:00pm with Radlett Renegades taking on our hosts Redbourn Unicorns. Captains Ed Hales & Charlie Nicholls took to the middle and Radlett won the toss electing to bat first. The sun was out for us throughout the day, and with the BBQ and Bar now being well visited we were underway in our second game. Radlett struggled at first losing two wickets in two balls before a very mature and elegant innings from Rahil Thapar. Thapar went to 50 taking his side to a respectable score of 127 giving Radlett a chance if they could pin down Redbourn and their explosive batting order.
Unfortunately this was not meant to be as captain Ed Hales strolled confidently to the crease and made use of the first 6 over powerplay, dispatching the ball to all parts including a huge 6 that nearly cleared the trees adjacent to the ground.
This innings was worthy of man of the match with Hales' 50 coming from just 20 balls, and Redbourn reached their target comfortably setting up a grand final and a local derby between Redbourn Unicorns and Harpenden Heat.
Fresh from his innings, Hales joined Harpenden Captain Will Latham for the toss and surprisingly to some considering the fantastic pitch Redbourn elected to bowl first.
Redbourn were pumped up and took regular wickets, restricting Harpenden to 121 from 19 overs before being bowled out. Adam Pritchard with the impressive bowling figures of 4 Overs 4 Wickets for 20 Runs.
Those thinking this would be a simple run chase underestimated the Harpenden bowling attack, not to mention the occasion and the local rivalry. A short but sweet innings from Ed Hales and some steady partnerships that followed left Redbourn in a good position, with 5 overs to go Redbourn required 33 runs to win. Harpenden bowled brilliantly with Thomas Whitton bowling 4 overs for just 15 runs. Redbourn though, were determined that this was to be their day and with 4 balls to spare and two runs required, the gutsy Josh Arnold swept the ball for 6 which was met by huge cheers from all around the ground not to mention the Redbourn players and coaching team on the boundary.
A fantastic final and a special mention to Harpenden, every final unfortunately has to have a runner up. Josh Arnold was named man of the match for his 35 not out as well as picking up a wicket during Harpendens innings.
A huge thank you to Antony Mauder and James Bunce of Redbourn Cricket Club for hosting us and putting in a great deal of time and effort preceding the event to make it the success that it was, and also to Chris Yorath and the grounds team for the great venue.
Also a final thanks to our fifth team of the day, our officals John Sweedy, Rob Riddelston and Hemal Wijesuriya.
For photos from the day please visit our facebook page via the link below;
NatWest Under 19T20 Finals Day 2017
We look forward to the 2018 competition! If your club is interested in taking part please email Sam Rose on sam.rose@hertsricket.org