Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Students hold their nerve to reign supreme again
Indoor cricket
The prospect of a three-way tie having been averted, Christ Church University 1 are still champions of the Pharon Indoor Cricket League – after the gripping climax to the season everyone anticipated. At the death, it was the students’ fitness that proved decisive when their bid to retain the First Division title they won for the first time last year was being threatened by Gravesend 1 and Canterbury 1. CCCU began Sunday two points ahead of both their rivals. But after Gravesend – with a superior run rate – had drawn level by beating UKC 1, the outcome depended upon CCCU’S meeting with third- placed Canterbury 1. If CCCU had lost, all three sides would have finished on 18 points from 12 matches. But, thanks mainly to the heroics of opening batsman Aiden Griggs, they triumphed by two wickets with only one ball left to be bowled by Canterbury skipper Justin Macvicar. How did that nerve-racking situation come about? Gravesend had dismissed UKC for 70 – Shah making 34 – but then their batsmen, who usually play so freely, were restrained by an attack mixing left-arm pace and leg-spin. In the end, although they had four wickets and three overs to spare, Gravesend were grateful to receive 25 wides and no balls, extras being top scorer. As a result, they went top of the table, if only briefly, on run rate. Were they to stay there? Calculators were at the ready. Canterbury made a sluggish start against CCCU and, although there was a minirescue act from Max Campbell (28) and Stuart Drakeley (19) – both not out – and Brewster Surridge (22), their total of 92 did not seem a daunting target. Not so. Halfway through their innings, CCCU were behind the required rate and wickets fell. With two overs to go, they still required another 23. Griggs had retired on reaching 25 but, luckily for CCCU, he was to return in the nick of time, hitting the penultimate ball for a three many players would not have attempted to run. His partner Tom Bale’s 14 not out was priceless. Given a standing ovation at the Kent Cricket Academy by spectators and their opponents, CCCU now qualify for the county championship which they won in 2016, bowling out Bapchild for nought on the way. Canterbury suffered another disappointment when their seconds, like Whitstable 1, were relegated after a rousing send-off to the First Division. Street End 1 avoided the drop by making 145-5 against them but Canterbury did not go down without a fight, falling 13 short. The bulk of their runs came from Sam Hadlow (33), Phil Walker (29 not) and Alec Beck (22). Paul Betts’ 65 for Street End was a personal best indoors and Matt Goldbacher took 3-23. Until April, attention turns to the other two divisions and CCCU are already in the running for what would be a remarkable treble. Their seconds top Division 2 with a 100% record after beating Littlebourne 2 by 41 runs. Their thirds share the Third Division lead with Gravesend 6ers2. They beat Gravesend 6ers1 by four wickets. In Division 2, former Kent bowler Julian Thompson opened for Whitstable 2 against Sturry 1 and carried his bat for 37. Whitstable went on to win by 44 runs, Thompson and his son, Ben, each taking 2-14 as Sturry were all out for 67. Canterbury are setting the pace in the under-13s’ league, their second victory being over Faversham. Other winners were Whitstable and St Lawrence and Highland Court.