Sussex Sharks VI crowned BECW Cup champions

Record Breaking Sussex Storm To Fifth Primary Club Cup Success

On a glorious day at The 1st Central County ground in Hove Northants Steelbacks and Sussex Sharks finally contested the delayed 2023 BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Cup Final after a mix of rail strikes and rain prevented the game going ahead last season. 

Rail disruption still had an impact as Northants were delayed and the game finally got underway twenty minutes later than scheduled with Northants winning the toss and electing to field.

The Sussex innings started solidly as the Northants bowlers looked to keep things tight, The first wicket fell at 27 with Dave Daniels being run out for 12 with an excellent throw from Northants skipper David Howells. 

Mark Bond, having scored 31 played on off Gerald Porter’s bowling with the score on 106 and this brought Dan Field and Si Ledwith together for the partnership that would change the game.

Si’s 80 not out, off just 52 balls with 11 fours was a magnificent innings but that was eclipsed by Dan’s 154 off just 80 balls with 19 fours and 5 sixes.

This was the highest score by an individual batter in the cup final’s 44 year history. Si & Dan’s partnership of 180 was another all time cup final record.

Northants did claim three late wickets with Asif Ali finally dismissing Dan Field who was one of two catches for David Howells. Howard Greenhill also picked up a wicket and a run out as Sussex finally closed on 322/5, the highest ever cup final score by a wide margin.

Northants needed a fast start to have a chance at such a massive chase but some outstanding Sharks bowling made that impossible. Joe Harrison and Phil Daniels kept the score down to just 5 runs for the opening 5 overs with Phil (5.2 overs, 2 maidens, 3 for 3) clean bowling Northants dangerous opener Asif Ali. 

Joe was then replaced by totally blind bowler Ian “Tiny” Morris (6overs, 3 for 38) and as Northants looked to hit out they twice picked out Dan Field in the deep and the contest was effectively over. 

Alex Towers (6 overs, 3 for 24) ensured there would be no fightback from the middle order and when Si Ledwith took a sharp chance behind the stumps Northants were 94 all out in the 25th over, Gerald Porters battling 21 was the only score of note.

It was a tough day for Northants who had fielded in the hottest part of the day and came up against a Sussex side who turned in a complete team performance. 

The Partially sighted Player of the match was awarded to Dan Field for his destructive innings and the Totally blind Player of the match was awarded to Ian Tiny Morris whose 3 wickets at the top of the innings effectively ended Northants hopes of chasing the score down.

The biggest winner of the day was Blind Cricket, Sussex Cricket had promoted the game and there was an appreciative crowd soaking up the South Coast sunshine and enjoying a history making spectacle.

BCEW would like to sincerely thank Tom Belcher, Emma Brooke & the whole team at Sussex Cricket for staging such a terrific final. We would also like to thank The Primary Club without who our game couldn’t continue to grow.

Report provided by the BCEW

The Cup Final Records Sussex Smashed:

Highest Batter Score

154 Dan Field in 2023 for Sussex v Northants

150no Justin Hollingsworth in 2015 for Warwickshire v Metro

133 Matt Dean in 2015 for Metro v Warwickshire

Highest Partnerships

180 Dan Field & Si Ledwith in 2023 for Sussex v Northants

139 Nick Ebbeck & Prem Sellathurai in 2022 for Metro v Sussex

130 Justin Hollingsworth & Luke Sugg in 2015 for Warwickshire v Metro

Highest Team Totals

322/5 Sussex Sharks in 2023 v Northants Steelbacks

260/5 Warwickshire Bears in 2015 v Metro

260/9 Metro in 2009 v Essex Tigers

Sussex Cricket would also like to thank Webtrends Optimize, sponsors of the Sussex Disability Cricket teams.