Derbyshire beat Kent to take 2011 Championship
The beautiful setting of Wormsley Cricket Ground played host to the final of the Over 50’s County Championship 2011 on Sunday 18 September between Derbyshire and Kent. Kent, who are the most successful side in the competitions history, won their league played a Derbyshire team who were third in the northern league but got progressively stronger as they progressed through the knockout rounds.
Kent won the toss in cold and cloudy conditions and put their opposition into bat, but it was the Derbyshire batsmen that progressed steadily, openers Richard Merriman and Ray McGuinness putting on 79 before McGuinness was trapped LBW by Chris Mendham for 39. Derbyshire captain Dave Tee came to the crease off the back of some impressive batting in the earlier knockout rounds but he was soon back in the pavilion for just one off the bowling of Jim Phillips. Neil Sparham joined Merriman and the pair put on 31 before they both fell in quick succession, Sparham for 24 and Merriman for 45. More quick wickets were soon taken by Kent, including two for returning opener Kevin Masters, to leave Derbyshire struggling on 134-7 but Steve Ottewell (13*) and Mark Bellm (29*) put on an unbeaten partnership of 48 to set Kent a testing target at 182-7.
Glynn Gunning and Dave Scoggins opened for Kent and like Dave Tee, the in form Kent opener Gunning was unable to bring his form to the final, LBW off the bowling of Barry White for just three. Mark Taylor and Chris Swadkin both fell for one off the bowling of Steve Ottewell and when Scoggins was bowled by Ottewell for 24, Kent found themselves struggling at 39-4. Jim Phillips and Nigel Keess steadied the ship and put on a partnership of 45 and after Keess was dismissed by Neil Sparham, Kevin Masters joined Phillips to put on another 35 runs before Phillips was dismissed by Richard Merriman. Merriman, Dave Tee and a run out by 12th man Clive Crocker left Kent on the brink at 148-9 but Kevin Masters and Chris Mendham edged them closer to the Derbyshire total. Requiring 10 off the last over to win, Masters gave them a chance adding four before hitting the penultimate ball of the innings high to the long off boundary. It would have carried for a six but Ottewell took the catch just inside the rope to take the final wicket and give Derbyshire the win by 6 runs and take home the Brian Aspital Trophy.
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