Sussex VI make Finals-Day

Sussex Sharks VI vs Berkshire VI: Match Report

On Saturday 27th July Sussex hosted Berkshire in the quarter finals of the David Townley Memorial T20 cup. Sussex were looking to defend the trophy they won last year and on paper it looked a tough ask for Berkshire who play in the 3rd tier of Blind cricket, the Southern Development league.

Sussex won the toss and T20 skipper Ian "Tiny" Morris asked Berkshire to have a bat. 

The opening Partnership of Berkshire skipper Tom Froud (30) and Chris Wallace (20) safely negotiated the first 10 overs, with Berkshire 44 without loss at the break, it was clear they needed to accelerate to post a challenging total.

With the score on 54 Chris Wallace fell to a regulation catch in the deep by Joe Harrison and this led to a flurry of wickets. 

Totally blind bat Mushfiq Ahmed was run out without facing a ball and this was the first of three run outs as the sharpness of Sussex ground fielding was a world away from what Berkshire usually experience in the development league. 

When Tom's battling innings ended with the score on 84 the runs dried up and the 20 overs yielded Berkshire 97 for 7, with just two boundaries.

The Sussex innings started with a bang as Mark Bond (31) and Si Ledwith (40 not out) worked the ball into gaps and were scoring at well over 10 an over. 

When Bond got a leading edge to give Tom Froud a caught and bowled it brought totally blind Dave Daniels to the crease, and his 12 not-out off just six balls saw the Sharks home after just 7 overs.

Whilst the gulf in class was evident Berkshire were unlucky to come up against a Sharks side that are in top form now, and they showed they are probably ready to step up into the 2nd Division of the National League.

That result meant the Sharks have qualified the Dave Townley Memorial T20 Finals Day taking place at Wolverhampton CC on 21st September 2024. 

The Sharks will face Somerset VICC in the first semi-final, with London Metro and Northants Steelbacks fighting out the other.