Roffey Complete League & Cup Double on Thrilling T20 Finals Day

Roffey Complete League & Cup Double on Thrilling T20 Finals Day

Brighton Malayalee Association (BMA) 1st XI and Eastbourne 2nd XI also lifted silverware during the Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League’s season-ending showpiece at Hove.

Roffey 1st XI completed a memorable Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League and Daniel Oliver T20 Cup double as three trophies were decided at The County Ground, Hove, on Sunday 20 September.

The day began with a dramatic T20 Plate Final, as BMA 1st XI held their nerve to beat Ifield 3rd XI with just two balls remaining. Ifield set a competitive target of 171-4 after Jack Biden struck 65 from 52 deliveries and Daniel Groves added 43 from 32, with Kulbir Gill contributing 26 and Charlie Constable finishing unbeaten on 19.

Arun Antony Clement powered the chase with 66 from only 35 balls, although six wickets kept the contest alive. Sahiyan Sulfiker, unbeaten on 21, struck a crucial six in the penultimate over before he and Gopikkrishnan Annamalaichamy, 13 not out, guided BMA home in a tense finish.

Eastbourne 2nd XI followed by lifting The Paul Baker T20 Trophy with a 28-run victory over Three Bridges 2nd XI. Jack Meacher’s rapid 39 from 15 balls gave Eastbourne early momentum, while captain Jamie Hamilton made 37 and Isaac Bashir 34 in a total of 183-7.

Three Bridges built a promising platform through Charles Dennis, who made 44 from 26 balls, alongside Milo Price, Anas Farhan and Ben Donovan. David Twine then took control, returning outstanding figures of 5-20 to earn Player of the Match honours and seal Eastbourne’s victory.

Under the floodlights, The Daniel Oliver T20 Cup final provided the day’s defining performance. Asked to bat by Preston Nomads, Roffey lost both openers without scoring and slipped to 32-4, then 51-5 at the halfway stage.

Frankie Cripps transformed the match with a remarkable unbeaten 126 from 49 balls, hitting 12 sixes and 7 fours. His unbroken 141-run partnership with Ben Remfry carried Roffey to 192-5.

Nomads’ reply faltered at 29-4. Archie Lenham and Zan Copleston added 42, but Roffey’s disciplined bowling and energetic fielding kept the chase under control as Nomads finished on 135-8, giving Roffey victory by 57 runs.

Head of Sussex Cricket Foundation, Gary Wallis-Tayler said:

"As a County we are extremely fortunate to be able to access The County Ground to host our annual Finals Day. This represents a wonderful opportunity for our recreational players and clubs to experience playing competitive cricket in a professional setting, an opportunity not many get."

It was pleasing to see three great games of cricket, played in the right spirit and included some inspiring individual performances, especially from Frankie Cripps at Roffey CC whose innings will be remembered for years to come.

League Chair, Gary Stanley said:

What a brilliant Finals Day, possibly our best yet. Great weather and very well supported. We had a very close Plate Final and congratulations to one of our newer clubs in Brighton Malayalee.

"After a high-quality Paul Baker Trophy Final won by Eastbourne 2s, the Daniel Oliver Cup final produced a truly wonderful knock by Frankie Cripps of Roffey that anyone present will remember for a long time. It went a long way to earning Roffey a League and T20 double. Thanks to everyone involved."

After securing the ECB Premier Division title two weeks earlier, Roffey’s Cup triumph completed an exceptional double and brought the curtain down on the Dean Wilson Sussex Cricket League’s T20 programme in spectacular fashion.

The Sussex Cricket League would like to thank league sponsors Dean Wilson LLP for their valued support throughout the season.

Full scorecards: T20 Plate Final | The Paul Baker T20 Trophy Final | The Daniel Oliver T20 Cup Final

Photo album: View photographs from Finals Day here. Photo credit: Stephen Lawrence.