Milford Hall Cricket Club win National Village Cup

Milford Hall win Voneus Broadband Village Cup

Milford Hall Cricket Club are celebrating this week after they won the prestigious Village Cup on Sunday.

The final of the national competition is held at Lord’s - known to many as the “home of cricket” -  and around 600 supporters travelled to London to watch.

The opposition was Kent side Leeds & Broomfield who, like Milford, were appearing in their first final and were backed by a similar number of fans.

The crowd, matched with the occasion, venue and perfect cricket weather made for an excellent day and the match will go down as a classic.

Milford captain Dan Betty won the toss and surprised many by electing to bat - batting first in a September cup final at Lord’s is a notoriously difficult task, as Milford soon found out against some good bowling and catching from the Kent side

Dom Afford - the competition’s leading run scorer - went for 0 to a superb one handed catch in the slips by Alex Czabaniuk.

After scrambling a risky single to get off the mark, fellow opener Tom Webb followed soon after LBW for 5 - Webb clearly feeling aggrieved at the decision.

When Aaron Afford played on and Stu Phazey was caught behind, the cream of Milford’s batting was gone with only 22 runs on the board.

Betty struck a couple of fours to given the Milford fans something to cheer but it was short lived as the Milford captain was LBW at 36-5.

Mark Thompson and Phil Cheadle used their experience to stop the rot but the total was still only 59 when Cheadle went for 19 to another good slip catch.

Harry Edwards is not known for his patience and struck a couple of lusty blows - including the first six of the game - but he was caught and bowled low down by Ed Scrivens for 24 with the score now up to 95.

Alex Stenson and Thompson added another 17 before the former went, then Thompson’s vigil ended after a 71 ball 32. He had earlier survived a run out appeal when he looked some way short of his ground.

The final pairing of Chris Dean and Rob Firth took the score up to 139 before Firth was run out with one over to spare of the 40. 

It was a moderate total but at least gave Milford something to bowl at.

Leeds & Broomfield showed their intent in the first over with a couple of attacking shots but Chris Dean responded well by trapping Scrivens LBW with the opening bat having walked across his stumps.

Left arm spinner Aaron Afford then gave Milford further joy when he had Monte McCague caught by Harry Edwards with his first ball.

Leeds & Broomfield continued to go at the bowling but Afford gave little away and had George Davis and Fred Roberts LBW and bowled respectively. The advantage was now with Milford as the batting side slipped to 33-4.

Things got better still as Stu Pazey got in on the act to have Clarry McCague caught by Betty and the Milford wicket keeper also held on to an edge from Chris Davis to give Afford his 4th wicket and leave Leeds & Broomfield on 47-6.

But time still favoured the batting side who needed to score at around 3 runs per over on an easy paced pitch.

Gradually the partnership of James Mitchinson & Czabaniuk pushed their side closer to the target without looking in any trouble.

Their partnership reached 77 when the latter suddenly had a swing at Chris Dean and was caught by Tom Webb at mid on for 46. Two overs later, Betty stumped Neil Dibben off Thompson for 1 and Milford’s tails were well and truly up.

With the front line bowlers having bowled their full allocation, Betty turned to Dom Afford to bowl two of the last four. Mitchinson couldn’t resist and holed out to Phazey at deep mid wicket for 39. It was an unnecessary risk that didn’t pay off.

Owen Matthews played out the remaining four balls and Leeds required 11 runs off the final over to be bowled by Thompson.

The all rounder needed just one delivery to secure the historic moment as Phil Semmens lofted the ball up to Phazey to give Milford a 10 run win.

Captain Betty who had never been to Lord’s before, said “It was bonkers!. The whole day was incredible and very surreal. I am so proud, not just of the boys but the whole club. It was a proper family day out. It has been such a privilege to captain the side and winning at Lord’s was one of the best days of my life.”

David Smith, chairman of the club for more than 20 years, said, “I am so pleased for all of the volunteers who give so much of their time and dedicated service to the club. This is just reward for everything that they have done. It is a fantastic achievement for our club and it was so great that so many of our members of all ages were here to see it. We had former players in the stands renewing acquaintances after more than 30 years. Truly magnificent.”

SOUTH STAFFS COUNTY LEAGUE
Before Sunday’s drama, Milford had to fulfil three Saturday fixtures in the South Staffs County League.

The 1st XI faced Brewood needing to win to maintain their title challenge.

Jordan Bulpitt (69) and Ejaz Nawaz (46 not out) were the top contributions as Milford made 250-8.

In reply Brewood were dismissed for 136 with Aaron Afford taking 5-31.

In the reverse fixture, the 2nds edged home by 3 runs. Milford made 142 with Ed Corbett making 35. Corbett then completed a fine game with 4-9 as Brewood fell just short on 139.

The 3rds lost by 39 runs against Wolverhampton.
 
Wolves made 156 with Milford hitting 117 in reply.Liam Shrehorn top scored with 40.

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