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Brewers droop
Kings Bruton 278 for 6 (50 overs, F Stewart 111, G Fountain 74, Meaker 3-33) beat Old Cranleighans 160 (40 overs, Chetwode 45, J Fountain 3-46) by 118 runs
Click here for a gallery of images from the final
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Stuart Meaker strikes for the third time in an over
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It was third time unlucky for us as we were comprehensively beaten by Kings Bruton in the Brewers Cup final at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. Few had any complaints with the outcome as we were outbowled, outbatted and outfielded almost throughout. The final margin - 118 runs - flattered us, and only a typically defiant assault from Michael Chetwode at the death enabled us to pass three figures.
In the last two finals we have bowled first and established a grip in the opening dozen or so overs. This time it was Bruton, and in particular Fraser Stewart, who set out their stall from the off. Bruton were put in and after 12 overs they were 71 for 0, and Ed Henderson and Stuart Meaker had both been hit out of the attack. Even the introduction of the normally parsimonious Chetwode didn't stem the flow - his first two overs went for 16 - and although Alex Craven made the breakthrough to dismiss Macewell for 30, the tempo only increased as Stewart found his touch with some exquisite cutting and driving.
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Henry Watkinson celebrates his first-ball wicket
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| Henry Watkinson removed Brown's off stump with his first ball to give us a brief cause for optimism, but Fountain overcame a nervous start and then opened up as Stewart tired. Stewart completed a well deserved hundred, but he fell to the first ball of Meaker's second spell for 111, and Meaker added two more in the same over to give the scoreline a healthier appearance - 254 for 5 is so much easier on the eye than 252 for 2. Fountain hit hard and straight in the dying overs, falling to the final ball of the innings from Watkinson for 74.
On a good pitch we were not out of the hunt but needed a strong start. Johnny Gates hit a sumptuous drive before being bowled for 10 by one from Ball that jagged back and then Harry Jupp was indisputably leg before for 4 (21 for 2). Eds Copleston showed his customary superb running between the wickets, eking out singles and pressurising the field. With Will Howard soon finding his touch, we seemed back on track until Howard chipped Ball lamely to mid-on, and then a stand between Copleston and Abeed Janmohamed again showed promise before on 19 Janmohamed played round an arm ball (he claims it was a doosra) to leave us 57 for 4.
The game was almost up, but Eds Copleston was there and battling. That last hope ended when he was called by his brother for a single which would have been tight at the best of times; taken to a player who has coached England in fielding, it was virtual suicide, and the direct hit left Eds well short. He departed, livid, and out remote remaining chance went with him.
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The last hope departs as Eds Copleston is run out
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| The tail barely wagged. Simon Copelston was caught behind for a 50-ball 20, Craven lbw second ball to an ambitious sweep, and Meaker's entertaining reverse sweep came unstuck when he tried it a second time and he looped a catch to mid-off. At 97 for 9 we were one run shy of registering our heaviest defeat ever. But Chetwode had other ideas, and after two sighters, he launched into the spinners as only he can, and the bowlers took some time to work out his limitations. He made 45 - more than twice the next best - in 20 balls and posted 63 for the last wicket with Henderson. But it was no more than some last-gasp pride salvaging.
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