Nazeing Common 137-8 defeated Newport 124-8 by 13 runs

Wednesday 21^st July proved to be a glorious night for all things Nazeing Common, when a fine display in front of a travelling support of over 50 saw Nazeing lift their first twenty20 trophy at Bishops Stortford Cricket Club.

Opening duo Aki Achillea and Robert Mackie got Nazeing off to a steady start, with Mackie eventually holing out for 14 in the seventh over with a score of 32 on the board.

That soon became 37-2 when the in-form Daniel Reese, batting hero of the Quarter and Semi final wins over Abridge and Farnham, could only play a delivery that kicked up straight back to the hands of spinner Bains to depart for 5.

Achillea began to open his arms now as the overs began to tick away, striking 3 clean boundaries before being brilliantly run out with a direct hit for 24.

Sadly for Achillea he suffered a hamstring injury and had to be carried from the field.

Wicket keeper Howard Cracknell and Michael Blair were the men that needed to repair the Nazeing innings, which they did in some style with Cracknell smashing 24 off just 15 deliveries before losing his off stump. Nazeing now 92-4 in the 16^th over.

Newport struck a crucial blow almost immediately when Peter Barker was adjudged LBW for a golden duck.

Michael Blair and Ed Taylor now lead the charge, with Nazeing picking up 14 vital runs in the 17^th over, largely thanks to some excellent running by Taylor forcing pressure in the outfield.

Taylor became Dann’s third victim at the start of the 18^th over, with Blair continuing to score at a quick rate for his side with a couple of much needed boundaries arriving late in the over.

Jack Finch hit a breezy 9 from 6 deliveries before Blair lead the final over charge that resulted in 7 runs, the youngster dismissed with the penultimate delivery for a fantastic effort of 37 from 27 deliveries, including 3 boundaries.

Ross Edwards and Jamie Wills scampered one from the final ball, Nazeing’s innings closing on a decent 137-8.

And so Newport of Division 1 set about chasing 138 runs to claim the HECL Twenty20 title.

Crucially Nazeing made a tight start with just 12 runs scored from the first 4 overs with 2 wickets falling, Hill removed by a run out and Dann bowled by the impressive Mike Blair.

Newport number 3 A.Hill looked in impressive touch immediately and dominated a partnership of 60 with D.Wood, leaving Newport in a strong position at 69-2 at the end of the 11^th over. Barker, Taylor and Waters had all been tidy, but Nazeing needed a breakthrough.

Blair was reintroduced into the attack and it paid immediately dividends when Wood could only loft into the safe hands of Ed Taylor at long off.

Man Of The Match Blair had further success in his next over when T.Evans was trapped infront, Nazeing beginning a fightback with Newport now 85-4 after 14 overs.

53 required from the final 6 overs then and with Hill passing his half century to warm applause from both sets of supporters, Newport seemed in pole position to take the crown.

The game was soon back in the balance however thanks to excellent work from keeper Cracknell, who’s turn and throw resulted in a direct hit as Hill attempted to run a leg bye. An excellent innings brought to an end only by brilliance from Cracknell, 59 from 48 balls with 5 fours and 1 six.

Nazeing began to believe again, with tight bowling and sharp fielding in the deep restricting Newport.

T.Fairweather came in and struck some lusty blows on his way to 10 from his first 3 balls faced, before that man Taylor took another fine catch in the deep to remove him, Newport 115-6 in the 18^th over.

Taylor himself picked up the wicket of Baker with a brilliant delivery that took off stump out of the ground, Nazeing now strong favourites although with 22 required from the final over things were still far from certain.

Jack Finch was the main to deliver the final over and he held his nerve, with Newport only able to scamper singles before C.Pearce was bowled for 4.

Finch kept the crowd waiting by sending down a wide with the penultimate ball, with only 2 scored from the final delivery, sparking celebrations all round as Nazeing wrapped up a 13 run victory!

Nazeing Common			Runs	Balls	4's	6's			O	M	R	W
A.Achillea		Run Out	24	31	3	0		D.Wood	4	0	16	1
R.Mackie	ct. G.Dann	b. Wood	14	21	1	0		M.Baker	4	0	18	0
D.Reese	c&b	Bains	5	7	1	0		T.Bains	4	0	17	1
H.Cracknell +		b. Dann	24	15	3	0		A.Baker	3	0	32	1
M.Blair		b. Hill	37	27	3	0		G.Dann	4	0	42	3
P.Barker *	LBW	b. Dann	0	1	0	0		A.Hill	1	0	7	1
E.Taylor		b. Dann	11	10	0	0
J.Finch		b. Baker	9	6	0	0
J.Wills	Not	Out	1	1	0	0
R.Edwards	Not	Out	1	0	0	0
S.Waters			DNB
		Extras	11						End Of Over Score:
		W6,NB2,B1,LB2							4	9	11	17
									23	26	31	35
		Batsmans Total	126						38	47	55	62
									69	82	88	100
		Total	137-8						114	122	130	137
Newport			Runs	Balls	4's	6's			O	M	R	W
J.Hill		Run Out (Finch)	7	7	1	0		P.Barker	4	0	16	0
G.Dann		b.Blair	4	11	0	0		M.Blair	4	0	15	3
A.Hill		Run Out (Cracknell)	59	48	5	1		E.Taylor	4	0	29	1
D.Wood	ct. Taylor	b.Blair	12	16	0	0		S.Waters	4	0	36	0
T.Evans	LBW	b.Blair	7	9	1	0		J.Finch	4	0	23	2
C.Pearce		b.Finch	4	14	0	0
T.Fairweather	ct. Taylor	b.Finch	10	4	0	1
A.Baker		b.Taylor	5	4	0	0
W.Ingham	Not	Out	2	6	0	0
T.Bains	Not	Out	2	3	0	0
M.Baker			DNB
		Extras	12						End Of Over Score:
		W7,B1,LB4							1	8	11	12
									21	28	32	46
		Batsmans Total	112						54	61	69	72
									82	85	88	96
		Total	124-8						106	111	116	124