DORRIDGE Cricket Club’s under-15s claimed a historic first-ever T20 national title with a 20-run win against Esher CC in the final at Lord’s.
The club were also the first from the Warwickshire League to compete in two finals on the same day as the under-13s lost narrowly against Richmond CC.
The under-15s posted 152-6 from their 20 overs and restricted Esher to 132-4 in reply to lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
Dorridge’s under-15 captain, Gianlucca Larucci, said: “It was a great experience for me and the team to play at Lord’s.
“Winning the cup is amazing and so was winning it at Lord’s. The lads really enjoyed it. This is certainly a day we will remember for the rest of our lives.”
“We started off batting strongly, struggled a bit in the middle of our innings as Esher came back into the game, and then went for it towards the end which gave us a great defendable target.
“Our bowling attack performed well, and they brought the game home for us. I am really proud of the team.”
Dorridge’s head of cricket, Paul Rastrick, added: “The team played extremely well and everyone at Dorridge CC is so pleased for them.
“Winning the national T20 cup is a fantastic achievement. They are an incredibly talented team of cricketers, and we are enormously proud to have them representing our club.
“They love the game of cricket, they play it in a very positive style, and this showed in their winning performance at Lord’s.”
Batting first, Dorridge made a flying start as Pati hit a half-century off just 38 balls, including 25 runs in a single over.
However, Esher slowed the run rate down with a few quick wickets before Abid came to the crease and hit a quickfire 40 off just 27 deliveries.
Captain Larucci scored 20 as Dorridge closed on 152-6 at the end of their 20 overs.
Dorridge’s bowlers kept Esher behind the required run rate as Arastu and Pati both took two wickets apiece.
Esher needed 53 runs from the final three overs as Dorridge’s bowlers stuck to their task, aided also by some tight bowling from Mehdi, as the Solihull club secured a famous 20-run victory.
The under-13s lost by three wickets against Richmond after posting 95-6 from their 20 overs as the latter reached the required target in 15.2 overs.
Dorridge’s under-13 captain, James Longworth, said: “It was an amazing opportunity to play at Lord’s. Obviously, it is a feeling that most cricketers will never get to experience, so to be able to play there at such a young age was great.
“Although the game didn’t go as we would have wanted and we ended up losing, I’m very happy that my team got to represent Dorridge CC at the home of cricket.”
Rastrick added: “The U13’s played well and sometimes you just come up against a stronger side on the day.
“We are really proud of what the team has achieved, reaching a final at Lord’s is an amazing achievement.
“They are a skilled side with a great team spirit who I know will have enjoyed the experience of playing at Lord’s and they will continue to do well as a team.
“It was a fantastic day for both teams, all the supporters and the coaches. To have two teams in two finals was truly extraordinary.
“It made for a day that we will all remember forever.”
