Our Royal London ECB National Cup campaigned started with the only day of rain that we can remember during the season, as we were washed out at home to Ashtead. During the following week Ashtead contacted us to say that they could not raise a team to return the following Sunday and thus we were awarded a bye through to round 2!

This round saw us host Esher, where our cup run could have been halted at the first attempt, had we not held on to a couple of important catches in the 2nd innings. Aiden Griggs (43) and Varun Anand (33) were the only scores of note in our 178-7, Esher in reply at one stage were 100-2 with 18 overs still remaining to bat. The loss of their overseas, caught well under pressure by Varun at long on, followed by a smart Marcus Ritson catch to dismiss their other ‘in’ batter was the trigger for our spin quartet to run riot with Freddie Foster (4), Shaun Evans (3), Adam Riley and Anish (1 apiece) sharing the last 9 wickets to fall in a 22 run win.

Bexley vs Esher Scorecard

A month later we welcomed Sussex based East Grinstead to Manor Way, where Matt Stiddard marked his first cup appearance for the season in a quite a way! Having inserted us, East Grinstead made some early inroads to leave the score at 73-3 but this paved way for Stidds & Adam Ball (55) to compile a stand of 157 at well over a run a ball. However it will be the 39th over that will live long in the memory of this game as Matt left his mark (quite literally on several parts of the pavilion). A two, followed by a boundary came off the first two deliveries before Stidds rather nonchalantly deposited the remainder of the over for 6, 6, 6, 6, via combination of belligerent pulls and straight drives, leaving the bowler with some ugly figures and collecting 30 from the over! He would eventually make 151* and help Bexley post 287-5 which, funny enough, was a few too many. A tight opening burst from Ed Nuttall set the tone but it was the performance of Ollie Smith in his first appearance of the season that caught the eye, Ollie finishing with 3-21 and this would pave the way to a 1st XI league debut a few weeks later.

Bexley vs East Grinstead Scorecard

That 163 run win saw us progress through to Round 4 which was the start of the ‘National’ phase of the competition and we had a trip to Brentwood to look forward to. Traditionally Brentwood are always a strong outfit, but this match would kickstart the series of completely bonkers games that we would endure between then and lifting the trophy in September.

Inspired by BazBall, we elected to bowl first on what we all thought looked a pretty flat wicket over the border in Essex but as it transpired the wicket was a spinner’s paradise, taking prodigious turn from the outset! Nethertheless, a Bexley side equipped with an army of spin proceeded to wear down a frustrated Brentwood batting line up after a particularly fast start in the powerplay. Their overseas star Chris Green fell cheaply to Adam Riley who finished with figures of 5-30 and dismissing them for 180.

Ben Aldred & George Haley got us off to an equally fast start in reply but a middle order collapse meant we were 107-6 when Adam Riley and Calum Basey joined forces. Every dog has his day and this particular afternoon was Adam’s as Calum and Adam combined in an unbroken 77 run stand, sending the strong Bexley following into raptures when Cal rattled off the winning boundary.

A classic Bexley away day enjoyed by all and “RiloBall” was well and truly alive.

Brentwood vs Bexley Scorecard

The Quarter Final was next and a home draw vs Wanstead & Snaresbrook, the Essex Premier League Champions elect, to take on. With no Adam Riley, Matt Stiddard took the wheel and lost what most thought to be an important toss. At the halfway stage, Wanstead were in the ascendancy with a score of 252-7 on the board. The fact that any of the statistics have been compiled over the years state that 252 has never been chased in 50 overs, the thought of having to do it in 40 overs was not pretty. But as mentioned previously, “RiloBall” lived on and it was Aiden Griggs & George Haley who led the charge, backed by a hefty Bexley following on the sideline. Their partnership of 122 in 18 overs was as critical as it was completely outrageous given the stakes that hung in the balance. George departed first for 66(64) and unfortunately Aiden shortly after for 80(84) in the midst of a late innings wobble.

Calum Basey joined up with Adam Ball, requiring 85 from the final 60 deliveries and it was Basey that led the way with an onslaught of 39(21) which reduced our target significantly. Bally, a figure that instils calmness amongst both players and supporters was still there and significantly, following a boundary that was sucked to the boundary off the final ball of the 39th over, he was at the crease for the final over which Bexley required 6 from. Freddie Foster was dismissed first ball of the over which allowed Ed Nuttall, departing us shortly after with his injury, to carve his piece of Bexley history. ‘Nutts’ swiped his first ball to the boundary which bizarrely sparked scenes of celebration with the umpire signalling 6 and Nuttall starting to greet an onrushing, airplane-ing Calum Basey on the pitch! The fact that the ball had bounced several yards short (despite the best efforts by Steve Griggs to argue otherwise) was finally relayed to the umpire and the equation was established as 2 off 4 balls. A dot followed but pandemonium in the streets of Bexley were sparked when Nuttall returned for 2 and claimed an incredible 2 wicket win. Adam Ball, the calmest man in the DA5 postcode that afternoon finished with 35* and Oasis belted out all evening in his honour.

Bexley vs Wanstead & Snaresbrook Scorecard

New ground was being trod as we moved forward into the National Semi-Finals where we would once again be hosting. This time we welcomed Potterne CC from Wiltshire, who brought their side and some 150/200 supporters!

An important toss fell in our favour and after having no hesitation to bat, Ollie Robinson, in to replace the jet-setting Aiden Griggs, set about taking apart the Potterne opening bowlers. He played some outrageous shots in his 42 ball, 54 – ably assisted by Shaun Evans, in an opening stanza of 88 in 12 overs; ultimately this fast start would prove the difference in the game. Potterne as expected fought back, but an equally outrageous, brave and skilful knock from Matt Stiddard (68 off 62 balls) would leave us happy at half time with 242-8.

The 2nd innings started brilliantly with Anish Patel, taking on the role of opening bowler after Ed Nuttall’s departure, collecting the first wicket in his second over. Bally would pick up a second during the powerplay but arguably one of the moments of the summer at Manor Way was to follow shortly after when Anish rose like a salmon and plucked a spectacular one handed catch in those scarily long fingers of his at mid-off to remove the oppositions overseas batter. The noise that reverberated around the ground was quite something with the Bexley faithful quite rightly recognising a moment of true brilliance.

Though Potterne fought back again, they could never keep up with the ever increasing run rate on a tired surface by the end of the game and eventually would fall 65 runs short. Shaun Evans would sneak in with 4-21 at the back end of the innings and when he took the final wicket of the match the scenes of celebration that could be seen across the entire ground were those that you would expect to see when your club reaches a National Final at Lord’s!

Bexley vs Potterne Scorecard

National Club Championship Final