1 week Ago By [email protected] (Thomas Reeves)
Whitstable Cricket Club have been celebrating national success. The club, whose first team play in the Kent League Championship, were victorious in the ECB Indoor National Club Championship competition at Lord’s on Sunday, beating off more than 800 other teams over the competition. Skipper Scott Dale said: “I’m massively proud.
“There’s lots of proud people at the club. It’s the first time we have got to the finals in 12 or 13 years. “Those guys were successful so it was nice to replicate their success.
” On their route to the final, Whitstable saw off Halstead, Broadstairs and the University of Kent on the Kent Regional Finals Day as Jack Wheeler delivered a stand-out display against the latter in the final. He scored 58 not out, returned 1-18 from his three overs and was also involved in a run out. The team then beat Dulwich by four wickets and finalists North London Muslims in their South Eastern showdown, with wicketkeeper-batsman Dan Pilbeam retiring on 25 not out in both games.
That took them through to the national finals where they earned a 24-run semi-final success over Ferndown Wayfarers from Dorset before a two-wicket win against Derby’s Ockbrook & Borrowash claimed national glory. Pilbeam stood out with the bat once more with 59 runs across both matches while Will Cook took important wickets in both games. He also scored 34 not out in the final, including hitting the winning runs with four balls to spare.
“Lord’s was brilliant,” reflected Dale. “The ECB treats you pretty well once you get to that stage of the competition. "About 30 or 40 people came to support us from across the club.
“The Middlesex versus Lancashire game was going on, as well, so there were some professionals knocking around. “We managed to play our games and then we got to watch some of that game so it was a nice day out. “There were a few groups there from each team.
But we definitely had a really good group that had come to support us. “The final was quite close and having those people there, that did make a difference. “They had a good day out, as well, which was nice.
” While Dale, who will take over as Whitstable 2nds captain from ex-Kent skipper Dave Fulton this summer, was involved he explained there was a mixture of ages that formed the squad. He said: “We had a couple of first-teamers and a couple of second-teamers, and then two under-15s made it into the squad. “It was a really good experience for them - Alex Cook and Charlie Sinclair.
"So, we had a bit of a blend.” It proved a real ‘Super Sunday’ for the town with the football club reaching the FA Vase final at Wembley on the same day. Dale said: “It was an unbelievable weekend for the whole town, with the cricket club at Lord’s and the football club booking their place at Wembley.
"It was pretty good to represent the club at the Home of Cricket before the football team goes to the Home of Football. “I think a few had to choose between the cricket and the football on Sunday!” Dale now hopes Whitstable CC’s players can take their indoor triumph into the outdoor season. “A good bunch of the players have been playing throughout the whole winter,” he revealed.
“No one really slowed down over Christmas or anything. “It was a great way to finish the indoor season but, also, a great way to start the outdoor season. "Hopefully, the club can take that momentum forwards.
“Hopefully, it’s the start of a very good year, rather than the end of one.” Whitstable first-team skipper Sam Denly will be in boxing action at Sittingbourne’s Holiday Inn over four two-minute rounds tonight..
