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Atherstone Under 17 win the League

Atherstone are crowned under 17 champions after beating Knowle and Dorridge.

Atherstone under were crowned champions in the county under 17 final against Knowle and Dorridge at Kings Heath on Sunday, completing an excellent season with a win against their Birmingham League opponents.

Skipper Jack Smith won the toss and asked Knowle to bat first on an excellent Kings Heath pitch and despite a steady spell by Matt Clements (2-19), Knowle moved along at an impressive rate with Jamie Hughes making a fluent 66 and Knowle skipper Nathan Roberts chipping in with a lively 20.

Atherstone kept their nerve in the field with Lewis Hubbard taking 2 catches and a 2-14 spell by Isaac Jeffs slowing Knowle in the last few overs, the Birmingham-based side finishing their 20 overs with an imposing 139 for 6.

Atherstone received a steady start from Clements and Jack Smith who added 31 for the first wicket and after the loss of 2 quick wickets, Smith and Sam Smart put on 53 for the 3rd wicket as the Adders refused to lie down and die.

Smith played a true captain’s innings as a target of 80 off the last 10 overs was whittled down to 62 off 8 and 41 off 5. After the departure of Smart for 19, Isaac Jeffs entered to play a decisive role with 30 not out off only 16 balls which swung the game in Atherstone’s favour.

With only 3 needed to win from the last 5 balls of the game, Smith was brilliantly caught on the boundary for 72 which included 2 sixes and 5 fours but Jeffs soon settled the matter with a towering six into the adjacent gardens which completed a famous victory for the Adders with 2 balls to spare, the club’s 3rd county title in the last 6 years.

Winning squad: Jack Smith, BillArnold, John Hall, Matt Clements, Isaac Jeffs, Sam Smart, Lewis Hubbard, LewisWrigley, Adam Clements, Johnny Healey, CallumWordsworth