Chichester University: Back (from left): Sam Hopkins, Tom Veillard, Ethan Bell, Hugo Chandler Front: Dan Wallis, Sean Read, Alex Coyle.
Chichester’s students reached the finals of the British Universities’ national indoor cricket trophy, having never previously progressed beyond the qualification stage.
But after finishing third in the pre-Christmas qualifiers at Eastleigh’s Fleming Park, they went on to beat Royal Holloway, Cardiff Met and Gloucester at the southern regional group phase, and clinch a place in the BUCS Super Eights finals.
In the Leicester hosted finals, they beat Manchester and Worcester, but a heavy defeat in their opening game by Bournemouth left Chichester adrift on net run rate and into an eventual third place, no mean achievement.
Portsmouth’s Dan Wallis and Alex Coyle gave Chichester a decent start in response to Bournemouth’s total of 80, but a hat-trick by Bashley (Rydal) pace bowler Dan Goodey, who plays Minor Counties Championship cricket for Devon, wrecked their reply at 50 all out.
Beating Manchester in their next match was key to Chichester’s immediate prospects and they didn’t disappoint, inspirational captain Sean Read taking three wickets and a catch as they successfully defended 62 to win by ten runs.
Read's triple blast
A late cameo by Lymington’s Hugo Chandler was largely responsible for the winning Chichester score – Manchester suffering a mid-innings wobble before Read’s triple-wicket blast sent them collapsing to 52 all out.
Extras played a game changing role in the final group game against Worcester, whose profligate bowling saw 28 sundries included in a Chi total of 64 (Dan Wallis 19).
A brisk Worcester start made the game tight, but middle innings overs from Read and Wallis restricted their run rate and, with Tom Veillard with the ball and wicketkeeper Coyle lending a hand, Chichester emerged 11-run winners.
Net run rate eventually proved to be Chichester’s Achilles heel as they finished third in the Super Eights group behind Bournemouth, the eventual beaten finalists, and Worcester.
“It was a hard fought campaign and to go much further than any Chichester group before was a terrific achievement,” reflected skipper Sean Read.
But after finishing third in the pre-Christmas qualifiers at Eastleigh’s Fleming Park, they went on to beat Royal Holloway, Cardiff Met and Gloucester at the southern regional group phase, and clinch a place in the BUCS Super Eights finals.
In the Leicester hosted finals, they beat Manchester and Worcester, but a heavy defeat in their opening game by Bournemouth left Chichester adrift on net run rate and into an eventual third place, no mean achievement.
Portsmouth’s Dan Wallis and Alex Coyle gave Chichester a decent start in response to Bournemouth’s total of 80, but a hat-trick by Bashley (Rydal) pace bowler Dan Goodey, who plays Minor Counties Championship cricket for Devon, wrecked their reply at 50 all out.
Beating Manchester in their next match was key to Chichester’s immediate prospects and they didn’t disappoint, inspirational captain Sean Read taking three wickets and a catch as they successfully defended 62 to win by ten runs.
Read's triple blast
A late cameo by Lymington’s Hugo Chandler was largely responsible for the winning Chichester score – Manchester suffering a mid-innings wobble before Read’s triple-wicket blast sent them collapsing to 52 all out.
Extras played a game changing role in the final group game against Worcester, whose profligate bowling saw 28 sundries included in a Chi total of 64 (Dan Wallis 19).
A brisk Worcester start made the game tight, but middle innings overs from Read and Wallis restricted their run rate and, with Tom Veillard with the ball and wicketkeeper Coyle lending a hand, Chichester emerged 11-run winners.
Net run rate eventually proved to be Chichester’s Achilles heel as they finished third in the Super Eights group behind Bournemouth, the eventual beaten finalists, and Worcester.
“It was a hard fought campaign and to go much further than any Chichester group before was a terrific achievement,” reflected skipper Sean Read.
