Trophy glory for Ragley and a new batting record

ALCESTER and Ragley lifted the inaugural Cotswold Hills League T20 title after securing back-to-back wins at Shipston Cricket Club.

Having booked their place in the finals, the Division One side beat Premier Division neighbours Exhall and Wixford in their semi and it was Ragley who then lifted the trophy after beating Shipston with overseas all-rounder Rohan Campbell named player of the tournament.

Winning skipper Tim Foster said: “We played well and I thought we deserved it in the end. I could not have asked for anything more from the lads.

“In the opening match we put on a massive total which made it tough for them but to be fair, they gave it a good go and one guy was hitting the biggest sixes I’ve ever seen.

“Then in the final, we knew we were in with a chance after scoring 187, but we needed to take wickets at the right time because Shipston are a class side.

“It has been a while since we’ve won anything, so it is good to come here as a Division One side and show that we are capable of performing against teams in the Premier.”

It was a memorable weekend for 28-year-old Campbell who also set a new batting record for his club after smashing 225 in Saturday’s league match at Ashorne and Moreton Morrell.

The big-hitting Australian said: “I was on 209 and there was a six to bring it up and everyone went crazy on the side. I didn’t know at the time that there was a record to be broken so I had no idea why they were cheering until I came off.

“It was one of those days where everything clicked. I played sensibly for the first 100 and it helped that we’d put on a good score with lots of wickets in hand so I was able to attack.”