Our hopes of reaching the First Round proper of the 2025 ECB National Cup came to an end after an agonising 2-wicket defeat at Kibworth on Sunday.

Despite the defeat, the side can hold their heads up high against a club which have twice won the tournament, in 2004 & 2008.

Report…
Sawley made 1 late change to their side from the one which was advertised, with Aidan Meyer sustaining a finger injury at Eckington, and was deemed unable to bowl, therefore Charles Baines came into the side in place of the experienced Richard Lawton.

Captain Josh Glover won the toss and elected to bat on a cool and breezy day in Leicestershire.

We made a solid start to proceedings, scoring 33 off the first 10 overs and 29 from the next 10 – to leave us 62/3, with James Chapman falling in the 20th over for 36.
Aidan Meyer joined James Lawton at the crease and the pair enjoyed a 67-run partnership, which included 20 for Meyer off a profitable 26th over.
Meyer was adjudged LBW in the 30th over for a quickfire 41 off 35, whilst Jimmy Lawton also fell on 41 to leave Sawley 149/5 with 7.2 overs remaining. Luke Marriott and Ben Slater continued their good starts to the season, making swift contributions of 25 and 23* respectively.
Sawley finished on 201/7, a defendable total.

After the break, Sawley, and in particular, Carl Cruz came out fighting. The fast bowler taking early scalps to leave the home team 55/4, and once Charles Baines took the wicket of the Kibworth skipper, curtesy of a smart Saqlain Bazmi catch, the home side were in trouble at 57/5.
The game continued to sway one way and another from there, as Kibworth rebuilt.
Josh Glover took an important wicket after drinks to put Sawley back into the driving seat, but left-hander Luke Spence chipped away to make 62 off 57 balls to keep the home sides spirits high. When Lawton claimed the wicket of Spence, Kibworth still required 55 with 3 wickets and 8.2 overs remaining.

Sawley continued to work hard for another breakthrough, as Kibworth began taking risks to close out the game, and by doing so, came a late wicket thanks to an excellent piece of fielding from Jimmy Lawton, with a direct hit.

Sawley were back in the hunt with the hosts still 9 short, and 10 balls remaining.
Monik Patel hit back-to-back boundaries to level the scores, whilst Sawley battled to the very end, with a throw at the stumps agonisingly close to a run-out to take it to the last over and last wicket.

It proved not to be our day, but it was a great experience playing at such a big ground, and putting on a fine display.

Thank you to everyone who came and supported, and everyone who kept in touch at home.

Heads held high #SuperSawley