Findon reach national stages of Village Cup

FINDON Cricket Club claimed the Sussex honours in the National Village Cup on Sunday as they ended Rottingdean’s dream of back-to-back trips to Lord’s.

A 23-run victory over last year’s runners-up, who also knocked out Findon in their journey to Lord’s, saw the Long Furlong club reach the national rounds as one of the last 32 – just the second time they have reached this stage since finishing runners-up themselves in 2007.

They last played in the national rounds in 2010 when they were knocked out by Rowledge, and the Sussex victors now face Essex-based side Mistley at home in the next round.

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On Sunday, having won the toss, stand-out scores came from Bradley Bridson (32), Felix Jordan (42) and Mickey Demetriou (21) – the only three players to make double figures – as Findon made 138-8 from their 40 overs.

Three wickets apiece from Village Cup captain James Iago (3-23), Demetriou (3-30) and Jordan (3-29), however, swung the game back into Findon’s favour, especially after the key wicket of opener and captain Henry Ledden (39) was claimed by Jordan a few overs before the finish.

He was the eighth wicket to fall and signalled the end of Rottingdean’s chase as they soon finished with 115 all out.

Findon’s league captain Barry Meaney said: “It rounded off a really positive weekend for us, especially as they got all the way to the final last year.

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“Probably, halfway through, we felt we had set a disappointing target. But it turned out to be a cracking afternoon of cricket for everyone, playing or watching. There was a good crowd up there and it came down to the penultimate over and we got a fantastic win.

“We weren’t pleased at the halfway stage and would have wanted nearer 200.

“It was a good track and wicket, but I felt when there are runs are on the board, we know as well as anyone, it’s always hard to chase them down, especially against a strong bowling attack

“They batted well but I felt they were always behind where they needed to be in the chase. Henry Ledden did well for them. I felt he would have seen them home, but we got him with a few overs to go and that put us in the boss seat.

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“They beat us in a close game last year, so we knew we had the capability to beat them. It gives us an opportunity now to push on and progress a bit further than we did in the competition last year, hopefully.”

Full story and report on Findon’s Sussex League Division 2 draw with league leaders in this week’s Worthing Herald.

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