Ed Foster

Shrewsbury take Club title

The 2011 ECB National Club Championship Final was a fantastic advert for club cricket, with Shrewsbury beating Cambridge Granta in the final over, Shrewsbury captain Ed Foster scoring an unbeaten 98 to guide his team to victory.

Losing the toss and put in to bat at the County Ground in Derby, Granta made a solid 220 for eight from their 45 overs, with Alex Fullarton leading the scoring with 87 not out from 114 balls.

Craig Park was the mainstay of a third wicket stand of 65 with Fullarton, cracking 45 of them from just 31 balls, including five fours and one six; but two wickets apiece from Mike Barnard, Rob Foster and Elliot Green kept the Cambridge total in check.

It was Shrewsbury skipper Foster that was to play the master innings of the day though, carrying his bat and finishing two short of a century to steer his side over the winning line with two balls of the match to spare; Rob Foster’s 39, 26 from Joe Leach and 23 from Tom Cox helping Salop to a famous three-wicket triumph.

The victorious Shrewsbury CC side that defeated Cambridge Granta in the 2011 ECB National Club Championship Final

Shrewsbury are ECB National Knockout Champions 2011

Shrewsbury Cricket Club are celebrating their second triumph in the ECB National Knockout, after defeating Cambridge Granta at Derbyshire’s County Ground yesterday.

Salop secured a thrilling three-wicket victory with just two balls to spare in the 45 overs per side encounter.

Captain Ed Foster hit the winning runs, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 98 as Shrewsbury successfully chased down 221.

The game hung on a knife edge at start of the last over, with Salop having just lost two quick wickets inside the previous two overs, Cambridge appeared to be favourites. But Fozzy playing the ultimate captains innings showed complete composure to take Salop to their target.

The story of the day;
– Weather in derby is nice after early rain. Salop won the toss and elected to field.
– After 5 overs Cambridge Granta are 22-1. Joe leach bowled rice for 10
– After 10 overs Cambridge are 41-1
– Cambridge are 51-1 after 15 overs
– After 20 overs Cambridge are 73-1
– After 30 overs Cambridge are 112-2
– After 40 overs Cambridge are 181-4
– Cambridge are 208-6 off 43
– Cambridge finished on 220-8 from their 45 overs
– Salop 54-2 off 15 overs
– Salop 104-2 off 24. Ed foster 52no and Joe leach 23no
– Salop 143-3 off 32
– Salop 172-4 off 37. They require 49 off 8
– Salop 192-3 off 40. We require 29 off 5 overs…. Cmon the mighty salop boys…..
– Salop need 11 off 10 balls
– Salop 210-6 off 44.3
– Salop won the national knockout by 3 wickets with 2 balls left!!!

Ryan Bishop

Salop through to ECB National Club Championship Final

Shrewsbury beat West Indian Cavaliers by 8 wickets on Sunday 21st August at London Road.

Shrewsbury now look forward to the National Final on 17 September 2011 at the County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby, to play Cambridge Granta Cricket Club of the East Anglian Premier League.

Congratulations to Ed Foster and the Team.

Match Report from ECB Website:

Shrewsbury beat West Indian Cavaliers and Cambridge Granta beat 2010 runners up Ealing to go forward to the final of the ECB National Club Championship.

Shrewsbury hosted West Indian Cavaliers and the visitors opted to bat after winning the toss. This decision looked to be justified as openers Aaron Thomas and Aqib Afzaal put on 113 for the first wicket before Afzaal was removed by the bowling of Elliot Green.

Afzaal’s brother Usman joined Thomas but after he was out off the bowling of Rob Foster, West Indian Cavaliers lost three further wickets, including Thomas who was run out on 80, to find themselves at 151 for five.

Rawait Khan and Alex Tudor moved the score onto 185, but the introduction of Alex Blofield into the Shrewsbury bowling attack blew the visitors tail away, taking 4-10 from three overs and bowling West Indian Cavaliers out for 191 from 43.2 overs.

The hosts’ reply saw captain Ed Foster dismissed early for 12 off the bowling of Tudor, but a composed partnership of 115 between Ryan Bishop and Steve Leach took Shrewsbury to 152. Leach was caught behind off the bowling of Saqlain Mushtaq for 53 but Joe Leach joined Bishop to guide the hosts home with seven overs to spare, Bishop finishing on an unbeaten 85.