13/06/2026
๐ Blackburn Class Steers Reshuffled BwE to Epic Chase Victory
Bawtry with Everton CC 1st XI secured a sensational three-wicket victory over Clifton Village Cricket Club at the Nottingham Trent University Clifton Campus in their Nottinghamshire Premier League Division 2 clash. The win was even more impressive given a chaotic pre-match selection window that forced several changes to the team sheet. The squad was missing Tom Haslam, who was busy trying to rediscover his youth at the Download Festival, while Sam Haslam sat this one out, seemingly scared to leave his work mates. To make matters worse, opening bowler Dan Lovell was sidelined with an injury, and Harry Longworth was away creating fitness content. Despite the reshuffled lineup, skipper James Blackburn won the toss and confidently elected to bowl first on what proved to be a dramatic afternoon.
The decision paid immediate dividends thanks to a genuinely world-class opening spell from Matthew Harris. Harris single-handedly dismantled the Clifton Village top order, producing staggering figures of 6 for 17 across his 10 overs, five of which were maidens. His ferocious spell left the home side completely shell-shocked and collapsing rapidly to 30 for 5 and then 37 for 6. When Abin K John was run out by Scott Ewen to leave Clifton rocking at 51 for 7, Bawtry looked poised for an incredibly early trip back to the bar.
However, the game took a frustratingly comedic turn in the 21st over. With the Clifton score sitting at 61 for 7, Joseph Colley came into the attack and coaxed an incredibly loose shot out of Mikey Chandler, who was on just 13 at the time. Chandler chipped the ball straight back up into the air, offering up the absolute easiest of return catches, only for a fumbling Colley to somehow drop it off his own bowling. It was a massive let-off, and Chandler fully capitalised on his lifeline, going on to anchor the innings with a gritty 60. Alongside Alastair Walters, who smashed a rapid 54, the duo put together a spectacular 114-run eighth-wicket partnership to completely transform the contest. A late cameo of 42 from Paul MacMillan further boosted the hosts before Colley gained a modicum of revenge by having him caught by Ewen to wrap the innings up for 216 all out in 47.3 overs. Colley finished with expensive figures of 1 for 54 from his spell, while Blackburn and Oshanda Munasinghe also chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Chasing 217 for victory, Bawtryโs reply quickly turned into a heroic, one-man rescue mission led from the front by James Blackburn. While partners came and went, the skipper stood completely immovable. Ammar Abbas (7), Louis Blackburn (8), Santhosh Samuel (2), and Oshanda Munasinghe (8) all fell cheaply to leave the visitors stuttering at 77 for 4. Scott Ewen (8) and Matthew Harris (15) provided brief resistance, but when Sam Sutcliffe fell for a duck, BwE were staring down the barrel of defeat at 153 for 7.
Step forward Joseph Colley, arriving at the crease with the ultimate opportunity to redeem himself for his earlier fielding horror show. Entering a high-pressure situation with 64 runs still required, Colley showed immense character, blocking out the noise to play a brilliant, unbeaten supporting knock of 28 from 41 deliveries. His steady presence allowed Blackburn to finish off a masterclass at the other end. The skipper brought up a magnificent, unbeaten 128 off 145 ballsโfeaturing 10 boundaries and two massive sixesโin an elite exhibition of chase management. The unbroken 64-run eighth-wicket stand between Blackburn and Colley broke Clifton hearts, as BwE crossed the finish line at 217 for 7 with three balls remaining in the 48th over to secure a famous and hard-fought league win.
Scorecard: https://bawtrywitheverton.play-cricket.com/website/results/7312228
