University of Gloucestershire Men’s Cricket Club (UOGMCC) suffered an agonising two wicket defeat to Cheltenham Civil Service in the Cheltenham Indoor Cricket Cup Final on Sunday.
Looking to repeat the heroics of the side in 2019, UOGMCC were put into bat first and after being 0-2, they fought back to post 57-5 through Alex Tierney (18) and Toby Rice (16).
Rice then picked up two wickets as an unlikely win seemed probable with Civil Service left needing 13 off the last 12 balls.
However, George Leadbetter’s unbeaten 27 secured victory for the dominant force in the local indoor cricket scene.
“To score 57 was not ideal but to have them chase that in the last over was unbelievable and the scenes to get us there was a whole team effort,” said UOGMCC captain Ryan Kilmister.
“A tough game in the final against the champions in the last three or four years but the grit and determination we showed was unreal.”
Wins over Cranham and Woodmancote secured a spot in the semi-finals before a dramatic victory over Hatherley & Reddings, where the scores were tied, saw UOGMCC progress by virtue of losing less wickets.
“It was a hard game but, in those games, getting to the final we showed we are a real good team and really come together in the last few weeks in indoor cricket,” added Kilmister.
“Really proud of the boys, every single one of them.”
The run to the final comes after a successful Indoor BUCS campaign in Cardiff that saw them win six of their seven games and qualify for the national stages of the nationwide university tournament.
Their season continues on Monday evening against Cheltenham in the Indoor Cricket League Division One where they sit second behind Civil Service.
