CL INDOOR LEAGUE: IPPA FALCONS TAKE THE TITLE

The Final of the CL Indoor League took place on Saturday at the North County Indoor Centre and saw the IPPA Falcons take on the Indigo Spartans. Both teams had performed well in the group stages and a great game was promised.

IPPA won the toss and decided to bowl first. The format for the final was unchanged with each batting pair facing three overs; wickets lost cost the batting team 5 runs and most runs after 12 overs wins.

Indigo Spartans Team

The Spartans started strongly, losing only one wicket in their first partnership and taking advantage of quick singles and extras. They were on 7 runs after their first three overs.

The next partnership could make only 2 off their set, losing a couple of wickets and the Spartans would need to step up the pace somewhat.

The third set saw the best bowling of the innings with wickets and dot balls only allowing a partnership of 3, for a total of 12.

The last pair knew they would need to take more chances and set out with a positive mindset. They didn't lose any wickets in the three overs and one spectacular six was followed up with 4 two's and the biggest partnership of the innings. The Spartans finished on 28 runs.

IPPA Falcons Team

All through the tournament the Falcons had used the same strategy batting second - attack the first partnership and try and get the runs of the board. This worked for them again with two boundaries, lots of twos and critically only one wicket lost getting them to a total of 28 after three overs.

When the next pair managed to double down on this - 4 sixes in the set - the Falcons were sitting pretty on 42 after 6 overs.

From then on it was a cautious approach by the batting team, taking advantage of lose deliveries and a few extras. The last set saw a very defensive approach with batters not seeking to score but preferring to protect their wicket.

Going into the last over the batting team were on 49 and the bowlers needed to take 5 wickets to win the match. A wicket on the second ball gave them a glimmer of hope but it was not to be and some jubilant 6s left the Falcons on 57 and worthy winners of the Indoor League title.

A big crowd of supporters heard CL President Siobhan McBennett congratule all the teams that took part in the tournament before handing the trophy over to the delighted IPP Falcons team.