Worcestershire Cricket Board

Worcester Nomads have made the regional finals of the National Indoor Cricket knockout competition for the 3rd time in 3 years.

They met the Oxfordshire champions Banbury, at the Royal Grammar School Sports Hall in Worcester on Sunday and came away worthy winners by 35 runs.

Worcester Nomads 122 all out; Banbury 87 all out.

Nomads batting first, got off to a sound but slightly frustrating start with Steve Bowman and Darren Lakin putting on 39 runs for the first wicket when Bowman was LBW to Olly Murrey for 15 in the 4th over. Banbury showed excellent commitment in the field and Bowman scored from only 5 of 13 balls trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to play through the Banbury fielders. Lakin retired in the 5th, and young Alex Milton (20) and Andy Leach (14) carried Nomads forward together, till Leach was run out in the 8th over with the score 79-2. This was a good position to press on but tight bowling by Ed Phillips and confident Banbury fielding prevented Nomads from gaining the upper hand. Milton was run out in the 10th over and the final Nomads pair of Liam O'Driscoll (21) and Ben Schiffmann (6) enjoyed a good 11th over, taking 16 runs. The effort for a really good last over was too much and run out followed run out to see Nomads all out with 3 balls to spare.   122 is a better then average score against a strong fielding side; in reply Banbury needed to overcome the disadvantage of a strange hall. They began well, until Steve Beck was removed by quick Nomads fielding with the score 29 off 3. By half way Banbury were 63-1, exactly the same as Nomads. A crucial run out saw Ed Phillips dismissed on 24 rather than retire and in Ben Schiffmann's first over Alex Milton made an excellent leg side stumping to remove the dangerous looking Simon Launder (19).  Olly Murrey missed a straight one from Darren Lakin, leaving Banbury's last pair needing 51 from four overs. Schiffmann's next over went for 12 as Banbury's challenge was renewed, then a run out left James Phillips as last man. He was  spectacularly caught by Schiffmann with an assist from bowler Lakin taking the fizz out of a well struck shot to the back wall and Nomads had won their way to the regional finals again.

Umpires - Rob Murphy & John Iggulden.  The regional finals are at Warwickshire C.C.C. Edgbaston next Sunday 26th February starting at 2.15.