PREMIER CRICKET REPORT

Last Saturday, LeestonSouthbridge were crowned Canterbury Country 2022/23 Premier Champions following a three wicket win against last season's winners, Darfield. Batting first, Darfield cautiously made it to 42/0, seeing off the opening bowlers on a wicket that assisted the new ball. Once Chris Beatson was introduced to the attack, the visitor's innings crumbled and never recovered. Beatson accounted for both openers and then he and Tim Gruijters put the breaks on through the middle overs.

Eventually, dismissing Darfield for a disappointing 125 runs in the 37th over.

Darfield's batters were never allowed to settle as wickets seemed to fall all too regularly, Nick Jenkins top scored with 18 runs, 1 shy of extras at 19 runs. The Lee-Bridge plan was clearly demonstrated, bowl stump to stump and force Darfield into errors. Darfield obliged. A clean sheet for catching and a run-out confirmed why LeestonSouthbridge deserved their final spot.

With four regular Darfield players unavailable due to injury, it was going to take something special from the remaining experienced veterans. Nick Jenkins and Robbie Foulkes produced the goods to have the hosts panicked as 3 wickets fell for just the first 7 runs. 7/3 soon became 25/4, and Darfield could sense a comeback. Enter the calm heads of Tim Gruijters and Sam Chamberlain, who applied all their cricketing wisdom to take the score to 95/5 when

Chamberlain fell. Both batters defended anything straight and simply waited for an unthreatening ball to squeeze a single.

Another wicket fell with the total at 96, but with Gruijters still there, Darfield's chances were slim. He eventually fell for 42 runs with only 6 more to get in the 38th over.

Darfield

125/10 from 37 overs

Nick Jenkins 18 Robbie Foulkes 17 Chris Beatson 5/14 from 7.3 overs.

Leeston-Southbridge

129/7 from 39 overs

Tim Gruijters 42 Sam Chamberlain 35 Robbie Foulkes 3/22 from 9 overs.

Shannon McAleer, Darfield’s Premier Coach.