Local cricketers book a place at Lord's on National Indoor Finals Day
Local cricket club AK 11 will grace Lord’s at the end of the month.
AK became just the second Hunts Indoor champion team to reach the National Finals after an exciting success on Regional Finals day at Uppingham School last weekend.
Godmanchester are the other Hunts champions to reach Lord’s in 2010 and they went on to win the National title at the home of cricket.
AK were the underdogs against Lincs Champions Cherry Willingham in their regional semi-final at Uppingham School, but prevailed by two runs. AK 11 then saw off Bedfordshire champions Flitwick by 26 runs in the final.
Cherry Willingham are a dominant force in local indoor and outdoor cricket in Lincoln, having won the Lincoln Indoor League 11 times in the last 15 years, and they have also enjoyed two National Indoor Finals Day experiences at Lord’s in the last decade. Flitwick have reached Lord’s three times in the last 20 years.
The journey looked over for AK 11 when they were dismissed for a mere 65 in just nine overs and one ball in their 12-over semi-final. Zeeshan Ul-Haq Makddoom with a breezy 23 was their top scorer.
But Cherry Willingham collapsed from 18-0 to 39-5 and that led to 14 required from the last over when AK 11 captain and bowler Mohammed Nadeem Zahid kept his nerve. Wicket-keeper Abrar Ahmed was heavily involved in the opposition batting collapse as he claimed two stumpings and took a one-handed catch, while Sudheer Jafeer and Sufyan Mazhar executed excellent run outs
Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Mazhar. both made 48 as AK11 posted 113 in the final before dismissing Flitwick for 87. Zahid bagged 2-16, while Hassan Amier delivered a rare wicket maiden in the crucial penultimate over.
AK 11 will face Hampshire champions Waterlooville in the National semi-final at Lord’s on March 29. The other semi-final involves Ockbrook and Borrowash (Derbyshire) and Whitstable (Kent). The final is also played on the day.