2021 Kent League Premier champions, Bexley have enjoyed a great National Club Championship campaign so far working their way to the showpiece final at Lord’s.

Having beaten Ashtead, Esher and East Grinstead in the group stages, they visited Brentwood in the last sixteen and captain Adam Riley led from front, claiming 5 for 30 as the hosts were dismissed for 180.

Ben Aldred got the reply off to a good start with a quick 39 in the response, and an unbeaten sixth wicket partnership of 77 between Calum Basey (37 not out) and Riley (35 not out) eased Bexley home with eleven balls to spare.

Their reward was a quarter final home tie against Wanstead and Snaresbrook, and that game was a real thriller. The visitors batted first and amassed an imposing 252 for 7 in their forty overs. Ed Nuttall and Freddie Foster each claimed a couple of wickets.

Aiden Griggs (80) and George Haley (66) added 122 for the second wicket but they needed a rapid 39 from Basey and a composed 35 not out from Adam Ball to keep them in the hunt. They still required 16 off the last two overs but scored 10 off the penultimate over leaving Nuttall to finish the job with two balls to spare.

In the semi-final, Bexley hosted Wiltshire based Potterne. They batted first and Ollie Robinson crashed 54 from 42 balls in an opening stand of 88 with Shaun Evans (42). Matthew Stiddard added 68 as Bexley finished on 242 for 8.

That proved to be more than enough as Evans enjoyed a fine all-round performance by claiming 4 for 21. Ball and Foster took two wickets apiece as Potterne were bowled out for 177.

The final takes place at the home of cricket on Saturday 17th September with an early 10:30am start where they will play Cheshire club, Nantwich CC.

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.