Giffard Plate Final 2013

The John Giffard Plate final was played at Kibworth Cricket Club in Leicestershire on Thursday 5th September with Leicestershire hosting South Wales and Gwent Police. The setting was excellent and the weather set fair.

South Wales and Gwent (SWG) won the toss and elected to bat. Some excellent opening bowling by the brothers George and Ben Crossley restricted the visitors to less than 60 of the first 15 overs for the loss of one wicket and although SWG had a significant 2nd wicket partnership they were never able to accelerate the scoring rate.

The wickets then tumbled in the last 10 overs as SWG attempted to increase the pace. Number 3 Rees was unluckily caught at short fine leg from a mis-timed pull shot off the bowling of Lee Eckersley and opener Hemp finished with 61 when he was trapped LBW attempting to sweep off spinner Lee Hunt. The off spinner then took a further 4 wickets including a hatrick in the penultimate over and finishing with figures of 5 for 39 from his 9 overs. SWG’s innings closed on 202 for 9 which always seemed some way below par and Leicestershire were clearly the favourites at the halfway stage.

Leicestershire’s innings started well with an opening partnership of 65 when Jason Helm was bowled for 39 by Clarke when trying to push on his innings. His fellow opener, Alex Newbery was very watchful picking up singles with ease as he was joined by Dan Pedley who hit a quick 12 and Brett Collins who hit a quick 20 before being unluckily stumped off the pads of the wicket keeper from the bowling of off spinner Rees.

Newbery was then joined by Richard Jackson who began by hitting Rees for 4 from his first ball. Both batsmen were watchful as they moved towards the SWG total before increasing the run rate and scoring freely and the game was won with Jackson and Newbery taking the final Rees over for 19 runs including 2 fours and a six from the final 3 balls by the fluent Jackson, securing a comfortable 7 wicket win for Leicestershire with 5 overs to spare.