HATHERLEY & Reddings held off Chipping Sodbury by 29 runs to lift the First Class Comms County Cup in front of an excellent crowd at the Seat Unique Stadium.
The day began well for Tom Hage who won the toss and decided to make first use of the conditions as Hatherley reached 229-4 from their 40 overs.
That tells only half the story though as Sodbury’s bowlers did a fine restricting job on their opponents for much of the afternoon, Ganesh Gadugu top scoring with 77 from 75 while opener George Driver-Dickerson contributed a gritty 46 from 90.
An excellent crowd created a tremendous atmosphere at the County Cup final. Image courtesy Neil Barton
But Hage went through the gears as the innings came to an end with 50 runs coming off the final three overs, the captain hammering four fours and four sixes – all in the last over – to finish unbeaten on 52 from 37 and give his side plenty of momentum at the tea break.
Seamer Jack Harman (2-36) was the pick of the Sodbury attack with Eddie Holden, Lovepreet Singh and Jiwanjot Singh also all producing tidy spells.
Hatherley, who will be joined next year in WEPL Premier Two Glos/Wilts by promoted Sodbury, then made their experience count with the ball, taking wickets at regular intervals.
Losing finalists Chipping Sodbury. Image courtesy Neil Barton
Sodbury always had hope while big-hitting opener Rohan Wijeratne was at the crease but his dismissal, for 82 off 75 (11 fours, three sixes), gave Hatherley the initiative and the pre-game favourites closed out the win.
There were two wickets apiece for Hage, Gadugu, Joel Price and Shahrukh Ali with Joe Tutty also finishing with one wicket.
Umpires Darren Turl (left) and Eric Woodmason. Image courtesy Neil Barton
WET weather 24 hours later forced the BOM IT Solutions U19 T20 finals day at the Seat Unique Stadium to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.
It was the same story for the U11 and U13 GYCL Hundred Finals Day at Aston Ingham, as well as the U19 GYCL T20 Development final at Bishopston, all of which will now be rearranged for the start of next season.