Police Cricket

Both Kent & North West Police Cricket Alliance once again found themselves back at The UptonSteel County Ground, Leicester, for the final of the National Championship, a repeat of the 2021 Final which NWA won by 3 wickets. 

Both teams had another successful season travelling around the country, playing the best cricketers police sport has on offer.

With both at nearly full strength and containing players currently representing British Police and others who had previously represented the National team the gathering Sponsors and guests were looking forward to a competitive match. 

With play scheduled for 1pm, the early morning weather was promising, with warm dry conditions albeit a somewhat ominous forecast for later in the day.

With the prevailing conditions and a very flat looking wicket, both teams were eager to bowl first with the knowledge that Duckworth / Lewis may well be introduced later in the afternoon. 

The Groundsman had already made it abundantly clear that any showers, no matter how light, would require the teams to leave the playing area to allow wickets required for upcoming fixtures for England U19 and Sri Lanka to be covered.

The toss was won by Simon Williams (Kent) who had no hesitation inviting NWA to bat first in anticipation of a successful run chase as opposed to 2021 where they had to defend a score in the region of 170. 

NWA opened with Farukh Khan (GMP) and Adam Phillips (Merseyside), the runs flowed freely, with Phillips rocketing to 50 within the first 15 overs. Khan played a superb supporting role, hitting an understated 9 in their partnership, enabling Phillips to play aggressively, dispatching a number of deliveries from the Kent bowlers into the neighbouring football ground. 

After the dismissal of Khan by Williams with the score at 59-1, this brought Gary Knight (GMP) to the crease. Knight has been by far the star batsman of the last two seasons for the NWA, averaging over 100 in 2021 and scoring critical runs during this seasons campaign. He has also scored 3 centuries in his 2 BP Tours to date. 

Gary struck some lusty blows, in what was a relatively restrained innings by his standards, amassing a total of 43 off 52 balls before he was dismissed by the bowling of Kent’s tall off spinner and British Police 2022 debutant, David Roffey. 

Kents bowlers dried up the run rate with some very tight overs, in the process ripping the middle order out of the NWA’s batting line up (Ryan Halpin 12, Jack Baybutt 0, Dean Skelton 1 and Ben Dowling 5). This included Phillips for 89 (96 balls 9 x 4 & 3 x 6) and  would have placed him in line for the MoM award. 

However the ship was steadied by Lancashire’s Nick Barker, who held his nerve steering his team from 146-3 to 233-7, hitting 56 n.o. at a strike rate of nearly 100 seeing the innings out with Scott Graves who ended on 7 n.o.

The final target of 233 would mean Kent requiring one of the highest run chases in a Final but no doubt they would have been feeling quietly confident, with the likes of Drakeley and Roffey in their ranks, of reaching their target. Unfortunately we would never find out… 

As the players and officials retired to the clubhouse, the rumbles of thunder commenced, and Leicester CCC’s ground staff wasted no time in dispatching the covers to protect what was a very good wicket for so late in the season. 

What followed could only be described as a downpour of biblical proportions, lasting for upwards of an hour. The puddles on the outfield sealed the decision, and following consultation with the umpires, both captains shook on a draw and the City of London Police Cup was shared for the season 2022. 

Whilst this was an all round disappointing result for both sides and supporters alike, the day was superbly hosted by Leicester CCC. 

Presentations and speeches at the end of the evening were given by Championship Secretary Paul Sims, both Captains and the newly appointed Chair of Police Cricket, Lee Freeman (CC Humberside). 

A huge thanks goes out to all involved, including the respective Sports and Social Clubs for their unwavering support. 

Finally a massive thanks to Serve and Protect for agreeing to sponsor the day at late notice. 

https://kentpolice.play-cricket.com/website/results/5496779/print

THE SIMON COLE SPIRIT OF CRICKET AWARD 

Inaugural Winner 

Richard Hewes (Kent)

Nomination by Simon Williams (Capt Kent) 

“My nomination for The Simon Cole “Spirit of Cricket” Award is Richard Hewes who will be part of our match day squad for the final. 

2022 is Rich’s second season with the team having made his debut for us against Hampshire in 2021.

He epitomises the phrase “Team Player”.  Whilst Rich has featured in every match day squad since making his debut, he rarely gets actual game time, having spent most games as 12th Man.  Rich has now played, 10 matches for Kent, 7 of these as 12th Man. He has come on to the field twice as sub fielder for an injured player and has yet to bat and has taken 3 catches. 

He has travelled with the squad as 12th Man to all of our away fixtures in 2021 and 2022, and even made the trip to the last years semi-final in Dyfed Powys, knowing he may not get any game time. He kept score for the majority of the match, not expecting to get any game time. However he was on hand when the skipper got injured in the second innings. He was also on hand during the finals, when the skipper fell to yet another injury and Rich came on the field as his replacement, fielding for the entire 45 overs. 

As any organiser of a team will know, trying to get players available for games, is one of the most frustrating aspects of running a side. With Rich he is the most reliable player I have. He’s the first person to respond to availability emails, ensuring he has either taken annual leave, swapped rest days or moved his shifts to ensure he is available for Wednesdays fixtures, and this is with the knowledge that he may well be 12th Man again. His commitment to the team is second to none, it makes my job as skipper so much easier when I know I have people like him to rely on.  

Rich understands what’s required of a team player, whatever their role in the squad. He is and will be an important member of our squad for years to come, and I know when the time comes for Rich to step up on the field he definitely will do. 

In addition to this he has helped recruit other players when we have been short on selection, which has been instrumental in the growth of our squad”