Dilkes helps side reach Lord’s final

Indoor cricket

Fifteen-year-old Isaac Dilkes will be giving his mother a treat on March 26 – a Mothering Sunday trip to Lord’s, the home of cricket, to watch him play in an indoor final. Dilkes is a member of the Broadstairs’ Thanet League squad that won the Kent title and, on Sunday at the Kent Cricket Academy, became ECB regional champions by beating Wycombe House (Middlesex) and Hadleigh and Thundersley (Essex). And Broadstairs did so in style, particularly in the final, when they gave a masterclass in how to run between wickets and keep the scoreboard ticking. In both innings, Dilkes was not out for a total of 39 runs and, against Hadleigh, took 2-6 in two overs. In the first semi-final with Wycombe House, Broadstairs’ left-arm attack took immediate charge, Chris Kidd taking wickets with his second and 11th deliveries. Thanks to Sheikh’s undefeated 34 and 17 wides – plentiful all day – Wycombe reached 77-5. With skipper Andy Marshall and Elliott Fox not out 27 and 25 respectively, Broadstairs eased to victory without losing a wicket. In the final, Hadleigh, who had knocked out Preston Nomads (Sussex) by three runs, suffered the sort of batting onslaught they are not accustomed to. The wily Marshall again carried his bat for 25, his opening partner, Elliot Fox, hit 36, Dilkes was not out 27 and Matt Frewin run out for 23. Chasing a target of 137 in 12 overs, Hadleigh lost their first wicket, a run out, to a brilliant piece of fielding in the second over and never recovered. Frewin took 2-15, Dilkes took care of the tail and Hadleigh were all out 65 in the 11th over. Another triumph, to underline the strength of indoor cricket in East Kent, was complete.