LORD'S BOUND ! That's Waterlooville, who qualified for the ECB national indoor sixes finals at Lord's on Sunday March 29 by winning the west regional play-offs at Cheltenham.
From left: Joe Mitchell, Dan Birch, Charlie Whitfield, Jon Hudson, Archie Reynolds and Ray Reynolds.
From left: Joe Mitchell, Dan Birch, Charlie Whitfield, Jon Hudson, Archie Reynolds and Ray Reynolds.
Waterlooville produced a stunning fielding display in Sunday's ECB indoor sixes regional play-offs in Cheltenham to reach the national finals at Lord's on Sunday March 29.
They beat Neyland, the Pembrokeshire based Welsh champions, by six runs in the zone semi-final before defeating Cheltenham by 16 runs to win the regional final.
Remarkably, the Ville ran out NINE opposition batters as they celebrated their wins.
Explaining the reason for the relatively low scoring games, Ville team manager Andy Reynolds said: "The leisure centre where we played had a low roof and concrete walls, with the playing surface the same as Crookhorn, where we train.
"The locals suggested a score under 80 was insufficient, with between 90 and 100 giving you a good chance. Over 100 was potentially a winning score so we knew where we were.
"The reason for so many run outs was because both Neyland and Cheltenham got behind the asking rate so a combination of tight bowling and good fielding won both ties for us."
Waterlooville successfully defended two modest totals, posting 96-4 against Neyland, Jon Hudson(17) and Joe Mitchell (19*) complementing an unbeaten 31 by opener Archie Reynolds.
At 80-2, Neyland were favourites but they lost four wickets for ten runs and were 90 all out - five batsmen run out !
West of England Premier League club Cheltenham brushed aside Ventnor (66-5) by five wickets to win their semi-final.
Dan Birch was Ville's batting hero, making an unbeaten 57 to guide the Hampshire indoor champions to 95-5.
But Cheltenham couldn't handle Waterlooville's superb fielding, their first four batsmen being run out before the side was dismissed for 80.
Waterlooville will be joined by AK XI, Derbyshire's Ockbrook & Borrowash and past national champions Whitstable at Lord's on March 29.
They beat Neyland, the Pembrokeshire based Welsh champions, by six runs in the zone semi-final before defeating Cheltenham by 16 runs to win the regional final.
Remarkably, the Ville ran out NINE opposition batters as they celebrated their wins.
Explaining the reason for the relatively low scoring games, Ville team manager Andy Reynolds said: "The leisure centre where we played had a low roof and concrete walls, with the playing surface the same as Crookhorn, where we train.
"The locals suggested a score under 80 was insufficient, with between 90 and 100 giving you a good chance. Over 100 was potentially a winning score so we knew where we were.
"The reason for so many run outs was because both Neyland and Cheltenham got behind the asking rate so a combination of tight bowling and good fielding won both ties for us."
Waterlooville successfully defended two modest totals, posting 96-4 against Neyland, Jon Hudson(17) and Joe Mitchell (19*) complementing an unbeaten 31 by opener Archie Reynolds.
At 80-2, Neyland were favourites but they lost four wickets for ten runs and were 90 all out - five batsmen run out !
West of England Premier League club Cheltenham brushed aside Ventnor (66-5) by five wickets to win their semi-final.
Dan Birch was Ville's batting hero, making an unbeaten 57 to guide the Hampshire indoor champions to 95-5.
But Cheltenham couldn't handle Waterlooville's superb fielding, their first four batsmen being run out before the side was dismissed for 80.
Waterlooville will be joined by AK XI, Derbyshire's Ockbrook & Borrowash and past national champions Whitstable at Lord's on March 29.
