Martley’s Midweek Cup run will go right to the very end, after a brilliant 33-run win over Worcester Nomads 2nd XI on Monday night in the semi-final.
Having never made it past the 1st round, four straight wins mean they now find themselves with a Cup Final next Tuesday 25 June at Kidderminster CC!
The hosts won the toss & batted in the sunshine, but Christian Mulvihill was bowled by an inswinger for 4 early on, after the opener had bowled some wild wides. Tom Vale joined Owen Birchley in the middle & the pair steadied the ship by ticking the board over from the openers, one lusty blow from Vale (19) down the ground before trying to work the first change spinner & missing one. Ben Waddington was cleaned up for 1 before OJ was caught off the spinner & at 64-4 after the halfway mark, things weren’t looking so great.
However, Ben Roberts & Douglas Stormonth-Darling were on hand to keep ticking the board over & dispatch a couple of big ones, including a no-ball which Ben walloped over long-on. His free hit however next ball he could only drag onto the pegs! But both battled on with Dougie (26) producing three fours & a six before skying one & Ben also perishing for a brilliantly worked 34. Ollie Dunks (14) sent a monster towards the house over the road before being run out chasing a two, & Sam Fitch hit 6 off 3 balls to trickle us up to 140-7, a competitive score.
With plenty in the crowd enjoying the sunshine, Dunksy delivered early on as he induced a nick to skipper Olly Saunders behind, & then bowled the number 3 in a fruitful opening spell (2-11 in 3). OJ bowled tidily for a couple & then Vale (1-19 in 3) grabbed the other opener as Roberts charged in to take a brilliant catch into the sun AND with Dougie on his shoulder not sure whether to try and grab it himself. Dougie (2-16 in 4) yorked one man before a horrid full toss was missed by old friend Josh Stafford (who many might remember from Chantry days) & at 53-5 it was looking like a final was on the horizon.
A couple of drop catches went down which thankfully didn’t harm the hosts, as Fitchy came on to get a wicket stumped with a wide ball, admitting he didn’t mean to bowl the wide! Roberts came on at the other end, getting a nick behind to Olly with his very first delivery, & Fitchy snaffled 3-11 in his 2 overs as OJ (0-26 in 4) took a catch at long-off & Saunders stumped another – four dismissals for the brilliant young skipper on the night.
Will Dunks was brought on for the last over to see the game out as Nomads made 107-9 from their 20 – a super team win enjoyed with some perfect summer evening beers afterwards 
The House Martins now wait to see who they’ll battle at Kidderminster CC next Tuesday night at 6.15pm. Hope to see many of you there to cheer us on! #UTM
