CHIPPING Sodbury’s memorable season continued with the club’s under-17s producing an outstanding all-round performance to clinch the Bristol Youth League’s Colin Mitchell Cup .
Meanwhile the under-16s also lifted the Gloucestershire Youth League's T20 Development silverware.
The 17s trumped Bristol by seven wickets at Twyford House CC, and the 16s overcame Quedgeley & Hardwicke and then holders Carsons & Mangotsfield at Hawkesbury to bring the curtain down on a remarkable week of success.
It began with Sodbury's younger and less experienced side finding themselves on the back foot at Twyford as Bristol got off to a flyer, reaching 69-1 in the tenth over.
But Sodbury captured a key wicket and hauled themselves back into the game with accurate bowling being backed up by some fantastic catching and smart ground work.
Bristol were eventually all out in the final over for 133 - well short of the total that they threatened early on - with the wickets being shared among captain Callum Mealing (2-15 from 3.5), Felix Fielding (2-15 from three), Ewan Frost (2-26 from four), Matt Elmore (2-31 from four) and Riley Wakefield (1-16 from three).
Sodbury’s reply was interrupted in the fourth over as rain swept across Penpole Lane, and for a while it appeared likely that the umpires would have no choice but to abandon play and for both sides to try again at the same venue in a week’s time.
But the showers somehow eased, and when the covers were rolled off Sodbury were set a revised target of 101 from 15 in fading light to get their hands on the trophy.
That was the signal for Mealing to take the game to Bristol, punishing anything short, wide or over-pitched with an array of attacking shots both sides of the wicket, eventually finishing unbeaten on 58 from 42 (10 fours).
He shared an opening stand of 51 with Ronnie Freeman (17), and then put on 38 for the third wicket with Riley Wakefield (16) to put Sodbury in control as the rain returned.
With Sodbury now so close to victory, there was no question of the players leaving the field, and it was left to Will Mountjoy to hit the winning runs with 11 balls to spare and seal a tremendous victory that will live long in the memory.
The 16s, meanwhile, were in equally imperious form in their finals day, edging Quedgeley by seven wickets before then romping in by 79 runs in the play off against Carsons.
Henry Rendell (50 retired), Riley Wakefield (46) and James Naude (44) all found form in a commanding total of 182-4 ahead of Carsons, the 2022 and 2023 champions, being restricted to just 103-8.
JIWANJOT Singh plundered a magnificent 179 off 138 (26 fours, one six) as Chipping Sodbury eased past Bourton Vale by 155 runs to consolidate second place in WEPL's Gloucestershire division.
Sodbury piled up 330-7 with Singh easing to a club record score in WEPL before Eddie Holden continued his fine summer with the ball, bagging 3-49.
Next up for Sodbury is a home clash on Saturday against champions Tewkesbury who are already assured of promotion.
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