The England and Wales Cricket Board
50+ County Championship
History of the Championship
The Championship began in 1984 following an initiative by the Eastern Region of the Sports Council in the previous year as part of its Sport for All campaign.
The counties in the Eastern Region centred around Essex took part in a pilot 50+ cricket competition and its immediate appeal prompted the then National Cricket Association (the umbrella organisation representing the recreational game but since amalgamated with The Test and County Cricket Board to form the present day England & Wales Cricket Board) to introduce a national 50+ competition.
In its first year 18 counties entered and in the succeeding years the number grew to its present day total of 40 – 37 plus the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight and the Cricket Association of Wales. The present Championship structure embraces 5 groups of eight counties, the teams in each group playing each other on a league basis. The 5 winners and runners-up in each group plus the best overall fourth placed county go forward to a knockout competition.
The Championship is hugely popular among the players and is played in a highly competitive manner but in an exceptionally good spirit – as one would expect from “senior” cricketers! Such is its popularity today that many counties run a 50+ ‘A’ Team and 60+ Teams, each with a regional competition. All the players have strong roots with their clubs and play an important part in encouraging young players.
Kent’s group of eight counties is considered to be the strongest in the competition consisting as it does of ourselves, Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Middlesex and Essex.
Kent have a proven track record in the Championship having appeared in 8 Finals and winning 6 which is twice more than Lancashire who lie in second place with regards to quantity of wins.
The Kent 50+ ‘A’ Team compete in the “Home Counties Seniors Championship” which consists of the same counties as mentioned above, the only difference to the National Championship is that two 49 year olds may play therefore introducing them a year early to assist in selection for the following year.
Additionally, an exceedingly popular 60+ championship is played; don’t mock it, it is still good cricket!
Suitability of players is usually by word of mouth and I assure you that we have plenty of knowledgeable individuals around the county in all areas of cricket to assess any name that is put forward.
It is a fact that teams over many years have come from various divisions of cricket but we do look for the Kent League to be the leading provider of players. Please contact me if anyone you know may be interested in their involvement.
Len Morris - 01223 714225: email: morrisL9@sky.com
ECB Under 50s final 2011 : Kent vs Derbyshire 18th September
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PrintThe beautiful setting of the John Paul Getty Wormsley Cricket Ground in Buckinghamshire played host to the final of the Over 50’s County Championship 2011 on Sunday 18 September between Derbyshire and Kent. Kent, who are the most successful side in the competitions history and were making their 9th appearance in a Final, played a Derbyshire team who were third in the northern league but got progressively stronger as they progressed through the knockout rounds.
Kent won the toss in cold and cloudy conditions and put their opposition into bat, but it was the Derbyshire batsmen that progressed steadily, openers Richard Merriman and Ray McGuinness putting on 79 before McGuinness was trapped LBW by Chris Mendham for 39. Derbyshire captain Dave Tee came to the crease off the back of some impressive batting in the earlier knockout rounds but he was soon back in the pavilion for just one off the bowling of Jim Phillips. Neil Sparham joined Merriman and the pair put on 31 before they both fell in quick succession, Sparham for 24 and Merriman for 45. More quick wickets were soon taken by Kent, including two for returning opener Kevin Masters, to leave Derbyshire struggling on 134-7 but Steve Ottewell (13*) and Mark Bellm (29*) put on an unbeaten partnership of 48 in the final overs to set Kent a testing target at 182-7.
Glynn Gunning and Dave Scoggins opened for Kent and like Dave Tee, the in form Kent opener Gunning was unable to bring his form to the final, LBW off the bowling of Barry White for just three. Mark Taylor and Chris Swadkin both fell for one off the bowling of Steve Ottewell and when Scoggins was bowled by Ottewell for 24, Kent found themselves struggling at 39-4. Jim Phillips and Nigel Keess steadied the ship and put on a partnership of 45 and after Keess was dismissed by Neil Sparham, Kevin Masters joined Phillips to put on another 35 runs before Phillips was dismissed by Richard Merriman. Further wickets to Merriman and Tee and a run out by 12th man Clive Crocker left Kent on the brink at 148-9 but Kevin Masters and Chris Mendham edged them closer to the Derbyshire total. Requiring 10 off the last over to win, Masters gave them a chance with a four off the third ball, before hitting the penultimate ball of the innings high to the long off boundary. It would have carried for six but Ottewell appeared out of nowhere for a brilliant running catch just inside the rope to take the final wicket and give Derbyshire victory by 6 runs and the right to take home the Brian Aspital Trophy.
Link to Final scorecard
http://over50cc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11353039
Kent 50+ Team face final shoot out on 18th September
The Kent 50+ team will play Derbyshire in the Final of the ECB 50 Plus County Championship on Sunday 18th September at the John-Paul Getty Ground; Wormsley; Buckinghamshire. 11.30am start.
They reached the Final with a close victory away to Gloucestershire which was sealed by a stunning innings from Rupert Staple of 29 from 8 balls which turned a tight finish into a comfortable win with 2 overs to spare. Kent had restricted the powerful Gloucester batting line up to 196-9 from their 45 overs with Kevin Masters (3-27) and Staple (2-34), well supported by spinners Jim Phillips and David Prior, keeping the pressure on.
After a quick start from Glynn Gunning and David Scoggins, the innings faltered as 3 wickets fell quickly but Mark Taylor and Jim Phillips added 80 to put Kent in the driving seat until another flurry of wickets created a tense finish. But at 158-7, Staple entered the fray and with an array of authentic shots dashed Gloucester’s hopes with a burst of 4,1,4,4,4,0,6,6.
This carried on Kent’s amazing recent record in the 50+ competition – our 7th Final since 2000 and 4 titles already secured. Derbyshire will be tough opponents – our record stands at 1-1 with them over the past 2 years - but hopes are high that another victory can be secured.
Kent team:
- Kevin Masters (Lordswood) – capt
- Glynn Gunning (Wickham Park) – WK
- Dave Scoggins (Sandwich)
- Mark Taylor (Holmesdale)
- Chris Swadkin (Blackheath)
- Jim Phillips (Upchurch) – v-capt
- Nigel Keess (Tunbridge Wells)
- David Prior (Sheldwich)
- Rupert Staple (High Halstow)
- Terry Edwards (Blackheath Wdrs/City of London)
- Chris Mendham (Downham & Bellingham)
12th Man:
Richard Tolson (Chestfield)