Newcastle University

Cricket in November may be an unfamiliar thought to many sports fans, but indoor cricket is reinventing the sport as a winter game.

The past two years have been frustrating for Newcastle Indoor Men’s 6, crashing out twice at the semi-final stage without making any real impact at Headingley. Two years ago it was Manchester who demolished them for 50ao, whilst last year they were outclassed by a Leeds Met side containing first class cricketers Alex Blake (Kent) and Ian Fisher (formerly of Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire). Whilst these two years have seen the 1^st XI unbeaten in outdoor BUCS league cricket, and win the cup competition in 2010- they have been unable to better the 2009 indoor success.

In 2009 Newcastle stormed through to the Lord’s final, winning the group stages to reach Leeds Met where they had one hand on the trophy. With 1 ball left in the tournament, Leeds Met needed 6 runs to win but it was heartbreak as Newcastle watched the final delivery sail for 6 and they had to settle for second place.

However, the winds have changed and Newcastle have assembled a squad equipped with the experience and ability to take on any side. A difficult first round draw took them to Edinburgh to see off the host side, and a Stan Calvert warm-up v Northumbria. Despite an incredible spell of 3 overs, 2-5 from Prateek Kar, Edinburgh were able to score 115 in a large hall. Alex Smith and Tom Ullyott starred with the bat, storming to 50-0 off 3 overs. When the openers retired, Newcastle’s middle order of Purshouse, Snape and Stanyon were able to nudge closer to the target. However, wickets began to fall and it was left to Hugo Snape to score the 2 runs required off the final delivery to secure victory. In the Stan Calvert warm up it was again Ullyott and Smith who began to smash their way to the target of 103. In another nervy run chase, and with 24 still required off 3 overs, Dave Fagan stood up to bring Newcastle home with 3 balls to spare, for the loss of 3 wickets.

At Headingley, Newcastle outclassed the opposition. Facing Stirling, a disciplined bowling and fielding display, spearheaded by the ever-impressive Prateek Kar, restricted the Scots to 88 off their 12 overs. In response, Ullyott and Fagan started positively, and despite the loss of Ullyott (18), Fagan continued to his retirement. Simon Harwood and Hugo Snape then finished off the job with a sensible partnership that saw Newcastle over the line with over two overs to spare. In a similar game against Liverpool, where the winners would progress to the final, Newcastle’s quality once again shone through. This time 86 was the target, after another impressive 12 overs of bowling. The early loss of captain Tom Ullyott could have thrown a spanner in the works, but Fagan came out all guns blazing and reached 25 after just 2.1 overs. Whilst the run rate did slow down, and a late flurry of wickets created an element of pressure, Dave Fagan came back from retirement to accompany Simon Harwood at the crease and again Newcastle walked off victorious in the tenth over of the match.

On the first of February, Newcastle’s squad will take the long journey to London to take on the best in the country, seeking to exorcise the ghosts of the 2009 heartbreak. Whilst it is sure to be a challenging final, Newcastle know they have no-one to fear and the quality of the squad gives them the ability to adapt to different facilities and oppositions. The confident nature of Newcastle’s progression will put them amongst the favourites as they look to bring more silverware back to the North East.

Richard Stanyon