Cavaliers win Notts Twenty20 finals

West Indies Cavaliers thrashed Wollaton in the finals of the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board Premier League Twenty20 Finals at Wollaton Cricket Club and qualified for the East Midlands Finals later this month.

For the Cavaliers, who won the toss and batted first, opener Elech Ahmed lost four partners taking the score up to 88 for 4 by the 14th over though Bilal Shafayat scored a useful 21. Ahmed was joined by Sadique Phillips and although Ahmed was stumped next over for 44 (4 fours, 1 six) with the score 96 for 5, Phillips was able to carry his bat to the end of the innings, finishing 35 not out (1 four, 3 sixes).

The Cavaliers total was 145 and Tom Savill finished with 4-21. After their semi-final performance Wollaton’s reply was eagerly awaited but the Cavalier’s attack proved too strong for them, Ricky Anderson opening the bowling and taking 4-19 in his four overs.

With seven overs completed, Wollaton were 39 for six and although they pushed the score to 61 by the 14th over Zubin Faisal then produced a hat trick to close the Wollaton innings on 61 for nine, with Michael Delaney unable to bat due to injury. Wollaton’s top scorer was Ed Savill with 12 and Faisal finished with 3-5.

The Nottinghamshire Cricket Board Premier League Twenty20 Finals were played out at Wollaton Cricket Club and were blessed with good weather. Wollaton played the holders Clifton Village in the first semi-final. They won the toss and got off to a good start, openers Tom Savill and Steve Allcoat scoring 63 for the first wicket.

Savill (36) fell victim to Liam Andrews in the sixth over while Allcoat hit a fine 62 before being bowled by Anthony Hart in the 10th over (117-2).

Wollaton took their total onto 183 for seven in the 20 overs which included 30 from Scott Elstone for the fourth wicket.

Clifton replied but lost early wickets, James Hollingsworth (18) battling for nine overs before being run out for the fourth wicket, Danny Footitt (24) falling victim to Elstone in the 12th over and top scorer Ian Hardy (25) bowled by Suman Stresthra in the 16th over. Clifton were all out for 120 with Scott Elstone finishing with 4-33.

The second semi-final was between West Indian Cavaliers and Caythorpe. Cavaliers made a disastrous start by losing four wickets in the first five overs but recovered gradually to post a total of 135 for eight in their 20 overs, helped by Ricky Anderson (28) and some big hitting by Sadique Phillips (37), 22 of which came in one over.

Caythorpe replied and were up with the required rate for the first half of their innings but when they lost Leon Botha (42,) for the fourth wicket with the score on 72 things took a downturn and they could only add 20 more runs before being dismissed in the 18th over on 92.

West Indian Cavaliers will now go forward to the East Midlands Finals to be played at Lutterworth C.C’s ground, Leicestershire, starting 10 a.m. Sunday 31st August 2008.

Their opposition will be the hosts, Lutterworth, and Lincolnshire side, Bracebridge Heath, the winner to be decided in a ‘round robin’ competition.