TheBlindJournalist: David Townley Twenty20 Memorial Cup Report

BCEW David Townley Memorial Twenty20 Cup Finals Day Report.

 

TheBlindJournalistreports from London.

 

It has been a record breaking and history making season this year for the Lancashire Lions and they added to their landmarks when Captain Sheraz Chohan led his side to the Twenty20 Finals Day, for the first time in the club's history, after they beat a BCEW side on 1st August.

 

The Finals Day took place in Highgate, London on Saturday 19th September. Four teams had reached this stage; the Lancashire Lions, Sussex Sharks, London Metro and the Warwickshire Bears.

 

As Captain Sheraz Chohan went up for the draw, his players eagerly awaited the result to find out who they would be playing in the semi-finals. The outcome was that Lancashire would face league champions Warwickshire.

 

The match toss was won by the Lions who bowled first. Usman Afridi opened the bowling to Justin Hollingsworth. However, he was no challenge for the Lions as he was caught out by Wasim Afridi off Usman Afridi's bowling. Warwickshire's other key batsman, Luke Sugg, was also no threat to Lancashire as he was caught and bowled by Mohammed Janaid. The Lions had control of the innings from start to finish.

 

Warwickshire, who usually obliterate teams by putting up scores that can't be reached, were stuck between a rock and a hard place because of Lancashire's dominance throughout. The plan and tactics of Captain Sheraz proved to be downfall of one of the best batting partnerships in the blind cricket world. 

 

At the end of the first innings Warwickshire could only manage to put 133/5 on the scoreboard. Amjad Khan, Sheraz Chohan and Arslan Sabir all bowled very well which cocooned the Bears because they couldn't hit out.

 

Following a galvanising speech from the Captain, Usman and Wasim Afridi came out to bat. They both combined well until Usman Afridi was run out with 60 on the board. However, Wasim stepped up to the mark and combined with George Ferguson to see the game off in 16 overs. The Lions won by eight wickets.

 

This victory saw the Lancashire Lions through to the final but this result in itself was a massive achievement for the Lions as Warwickshire were the only team they hadn't beaten this season. Warwickshire were no match for the excellent performance by every player in the Lions team.

 

Sussex were the winners of their semi-final against London Metro which meant it was a Sharks V Lions Final.

 

Sussex won the toss and sent Lancashire into bat. Usman and Wasim Afridi opened the batting. Sussex were an excellent fielding side and took many catches and opportunities. Their ground fielding was superb. Usman Afridi made 41 before he was caught out. George Ferguson and Sheraz Chohan then came up to balance the game. Captain Sheraz anchored his innings and did his job superbly to keep George on strike, who was on fire. They both combined for a 40 plus partnership. George made 63 off the bat. The Lions totalled 149/7.

 

After a quick break Lancashire came out to bowl. Captain Sheraz Chohan's bowling sent shivers down the spine of Sussex Captain, Si Legwith. Si was caught out off Sheraz's bowling with 11 runs to his name. Sheraz bowled very well in this game also. His figures were three overs for 20 runs and two wickets. Arslan Sabir also made a name for himself as his bowling was economical and very fast. His figures were 3 overs for 10 runs.

 

Amjad Khan caught out Sussex's Ian Morris with a superb catch. Sussex kept chipping away at the score but Lancashire also kept fighting and took the final to the last over. The pressure fell on Mohammed Salim Patel to bowl the final over. Sussex needed 7 runs of 6 bowls. Salim said "I was flapping like a fish out of water" but he bowled very well and took the game to the last bowl.

 

Sussex managed to reach their target and lifted the trophy. The Lions had made history for themselves as they'd reached the final for the first time and managed to take their opponents to the very last bowl.  Credit to Lancashire's Captain and every player that played a part in getting Lancashire to where they were.

 

As well as Lancashire's Development team winning the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust Development Festival and being the runners up in the Development League, the club's successes didn't stop there. The National side had also made leaps of their own. They finished second in the National League, their highest position since the club's inception three years ago. They also reached the semi-finals of the British Blind Sport Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup by beating, the then, cup holders Sussex Sharks. To top it all off, and end the season on an even bigger high, Lancashire's Twenty20 side reached the final of the cup and took it to the last bowl of the match but only just lost to the Sussex Sharks.

 

There were also many personal achievements for a lot of the players:
Usman Afridi won the "Best Partial Batsman Of The Year Award" for making over 900 runs off the bat.

 

Wasim Afridi won the "Most Promising Player Of The Year Award"

 

Sheraz Chohan won the "Best Low Partial Player Of The Year Award" Sheraz also was the Captain for both cups which the Lions had entered.

 

Martin Robson won the "Best Total Bowler Of The Year Award" for taking 10 wickets. Martin was also Captain of the National side which finished second.

 

Amanda Large was also a nominee for the Female Player Of The Season Award.

 

There were a few fresh faces this season also but every debutant played their part in each and every game they played.

 

So, overall it has been an exceptional year in every aspect for the Lions, who will now have a break before they commence winter training in preparation for next season.