Chilt took another step closer to Lords on Sunday with a 33 run win over Valley End of Surrey in Round 5 of the National Village Cup.
The opposition arrived missing a few players due to Covid isolation but nonetheless looked strong and Chilt struggled early having won the toss, slipping to 50-4. Enter Josh Taylor and Oli van Noort who had other ideas and batted beautifully to get Chilt up to 205-4 before a later flurry of runs and wickets gave us a final total of 227 to defend. Josh finished on 85 and Oli 65.
The Valley End response was watchful and measured with chances few and far between. Hugo Gillespie and Martyn Swift opened the bowling with Hugo bowling tightly and Swifty looking dangerous, yet only one wicket fell before Charlie Davies came on to bowl the well set Valley End skipper. 73-2 became 161-2 although the run rate was climbing all the while.
Despite needing 67 to win and overs running out Valley End looked favourites with so many wickets in hand and small boundaries to aim for, but two quick wickets from Reuben Taylor and Ben Lucking removed both well set batsmen and from that point Chilt always looked favourites, although you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife. It was tense until about three overs left!
Chilt enter the last 16 of the National Village Cup for the first time (indeed getting a win in the first round of the comp was a first for the club!) where we will entertain Stoke Green from just north of Slough. The tie will be played at West Chilt on July 4.