Final ball thriller takes U'15s to final

Bedminster U'15s sealed a thrilling victory off the final ball of the game, chasing 128 to win away to Congresbury in the semi-final of the North Somerset Cup.

It was all down to this, the very last ball of the match, with Shazil Butt on strike and Bedminster needing two runs to win and one to tie. Bedminster had entered the final over with Alfie Lewis and Shaz requiring 7 runs for victory, with off spinner Caddick, who had earlier scored fifty, to bowl. Alfie guided the first ball through point for two, before clipping the second to mid wicket for a scrambled single. With 4 off 4 needed, Caddick managed to bowl a dot, followed by two singles to leave two runs required off the final ball. Time seemed to slow down as Caddick prepared for the match deciding delivery. He walked into bowl, a quicker one aimed to bowl Shaz, but it's too straight, it's on his pads, however the batsmen's attempts to make contact fail as the ball brushes his pads, it beats the keepers despairing dive and trickles to fine leg. Alfie Lewis, who had been backing up a long way nearly laps Shaz as the pair complete two leg byes and secure a place in the final for their team.

Earlier in the evening, Bedminster had elected to bowl after winning the toss. They had a fantastic start, as the games first 3 overs went for only one run. However after a slow start and an early wicket, Congresbury's number 3 batsmen Jack Kearns, took Bedminster's bowlers on, scoring a fluent 49 before being run out whilst taking on Adam Hares arm whist trying to take two from the short boundary. Kearns had earlier been reprieved, as he was caught on the boundary off a no ball from Bailey Peacock, who had clipped the bails, Stephen Finn style, whilst in his delivery stride. At the other end, James Caddick played a solid innings batting through his teams twenty overs for 50 not out to guide Congresbury to 127 for 5. The pick of the bowlers was Alfie Lewis who took 3 for 26, with the other two wickets coming from run outs.

In reply, Adam Hares and Lewis Shean walked out to open the batting. Hares (27) took on the opening bowlers, looking to get on the front foot, he drove powerfully down the ground, peeling off two fours in the first over. At 43 without loss, Bedminster appeared to be cruising before both openers fell in quick succession. This brought together Harry Drissell and skipper Joe Millard at the crease. After taking a few balls to settle, they appeared to be working nicely towards the target, with Joe Millard timing sweetly a clip off his legs which raced to the boundary for four.

Bizarrely in the ninth over confusion abounded as a misdirected leg side ball ran to the boundary, appearing to some spectators go four four, before being thrown in by the fielder and striking the wicket keepers' helmet, which was placed 20 yards behind the stumps. In the meantime, the batsmen had run three and were awarded five penalty runs. After the games completion it was later revealed that scorer Chris Giles, under pressure in a tight match, had mistakenly counted only two runs, in addition to the penalty.

Together Millard and Drissell then took the score to 93-3 before a mix up, whilst taking a three, led to Drissell being run out crucially with his bat in the air, by a direct hit from the boundary. The wicket brought Alfie Lewis in at number five, who batted calmly with Millard to leave Bedminster needing 33 runs from 30 balls. Millard (29) crafted an attractive innings, including four boundary fours, before an excellent 16th over from Jack Kearns which only went for two runs heaped the pressure back on the batsmen.

Disaster then struck as Millard was bowled, looking for a boundary, off the first ball of the 17th over. The energetic Will Harvey joined Lewis at the crease and batted and ran with the required urgency, shifting the momentum back Bedminster's way, as he took 10 off the 18th over, before being caught at mid off in the penultimate over for 11 off only 9 balls. Shazil Butt then came to the crease with the pressure on and the fate of the match to be decided. Less than ten minutes later, Butt together with Lewis walked off undefeated and elated to have secured their teams place in the final.

In an excellent game, which ebbed and flowed, Alfie Lewis was named man of the match for his 3-26 and 19 not out.

The final of the North Somerset Cup. will take place at the Clanage on the 12th of June against Old Bristolians. Before that, the U'15s will play Bristol YMCA A in the BYCL.

See the match scorecard on play cricket.