So close, but Bognor fall at the final hurdle
A highly successful season for Bognor came to a thrilling but unsuccessful conclusion against St Peter’s of Brighton.
The August Cup final went to the final ball, reflecting how far Bognor have come as a side, and setting the club up for a concerted tilt at the Division 2 title in 2021.
Put into bat at Blackstone CC on a terrific wicket, Bognor lost Ryan Maskell early, but Tom Woolnough (24) and Joe Ashmore (71) consolidated. Ashmore has been in superb form in the latter stages of the cup campaign, and was again aggressive, pulling his first ball to the fence.
The St Peter’s attack was for the most part toothless, though Wazir Khan (2-19) was excellent. Despite losing Woolnough, Bognor increased the run rate, with a maiden first XI 50 for Taylor Jaycocks showing his talent.
The high point of his 71 off 62 balls was a hooked six off opening bowler Varun Khullar, but there was plenty of exceptional strokeplay.
After Ashmore and Jaycocks departed, a quick flurry from Mike Harris (21) dragged the total to a competitive 226-9, Rohan Doyle picking up 3-55.
St Peter’s appeared to have judged the pitch nicely, and with very little swing or seam movement, got off to a flier.
Doyle swung through the line and rapidly reached 50 in the sixth over. It took the spin of Harris to dismiss him for 57 off 28 balls, and with Jaycocks accounting for the experience of Toby Pierce, the game was back in the balance.
Harris (2-33) continued to probe, and the introduction of Ashmore dealt with Max Lincoln, who was followed back to the pavilion by Hope (25) and Khullar, for a duck.
The game swung back to St Peter’s as skipper Sam Wheatley began playing some fine strokes, including four classy straight sixes.
Wickets continued to fall around him, however, as Bognor stayed in the contest.
Sam Adams, as he has been all year, was excellent with 2-24, while Josh Sargeant returned to bowl exceptionally at the death.
Going into the last over, Bognor finally accounted for Wheatley (58), and three consecutive dot balls to number eleven Khan left St Peter’s 2 to win off the final ball, with a wicket sending the August Cup to Bognor.
Khan laid bat on ball, and the throw from long-on was not gathered cleanly, with both batsmen well short, leaving St Peter’s August Cup champions by one wicket.
Bognor will return in 2021 with more experience in their ranks, and a fit young side look very capable of a title challenge.
With the addition of Zimbabwean Roy Kaia as overseas for a second time, and the continued development of young talents across the club, it is an exciting 12 months ahead.