Lions book trip to Barbados (From Bournemouth Echo)

Lions book trip to Barbados

7:00am Tuesday 29th September 2009 in

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BOURNEMOUTH will swap Chapel Gate for the Caribbean next month after being crowned Cockspur Club Twenty20 kings of England and Wales last night.

The Southern Premier underdogs booked an all-expenses-paid trip to Barbados after emerging triumphant in front of the Sky cameras at the County Ground in Derby.

Bournemouth saw off Surrey Championship powerhouses Reigate Priory in their semi-final before romping to a six-wicket win over Nottinghamshire Premier League champions Cuckney in the final.

Jubilant skipper Craig de Weymarn told the Daily Echo: “It’s unbelievable and we’re all on cloud nine. It was a fantastic effort by the boys.

“They are special players who have all got great talents and there are a lot of years to come from them. It’s a young side with a very bright future.

“We played superbly in the tournament and it was a real collective effort. I can’t speak highly enough of the boys.”

After seeing off favourites Reigate Priory in the last four, Bournemouth made an encouraging start to the final when Ed Denham and David Payne both made early breakthroughs as Cuckney were reduced to 33 for two.

Although Richard Stroh and Tom Ullyott managed to steady the ship, the Lions attack ensured they failed to gain any momentum as they reached 64 for two at the halfway point.

But Stroh and Ullyott then began to cut loose, accelerating the score to 126 off 16 overs. However, a heroic effort in the field saw Bournemouth restrict Cuckney to 152 for seven after they had looked on course for a much bigger target at 134 for two with more than four overs remaining.

Nick Park and Mark House, whose opening stand of 108 had underpinned Bournemouth’s semi-final success over Reigate, again gave the Lions a solid platform with their 50-partnership coming off the first 41 balls.

However, House, who was dropped twice, eventually ran out of lives when he dollied a catch to wicket-keeper Dave Hunt on 34 before James Park departed first ball, bowled by Dan Brown as Bournemouth’s 72 without loss quickly became 74 for two.

Simon Watkins cracked two towering sixes off Tom Ullyott’s final over before Richard Bostock had him trapped in front for 19 with the score on 111.

But after Park, who collected the player-of-the-day award, had brought up his 50 off 49 balls, skipper de Weymarn guided Bournemouth to a memorable triumph.

See tomorrow’s Daily Echo for pictures and more reaction.