Individual brilliance was the theme of round three of the 2023 Voneus Village Cup, with eight centuries, six five-fors, three six-fors and even a seven-for recorded across the 32 groups.
Burbage & Easton Royal’s wicketkeeper David Cope impressed with the bat, blasting 188 runs off 124 deliveries against Charlton Down – the highest individual score of this year’s competition. Goatacre’s David Miles, meanwhile, helped his side skittle Shrewton for 154 with his haul of 7 for 21 from 5.2 overs.
Blackheath’s Archie Jones also caught the eye with his match-winning return of 5 for 24 against Valley End. Jones picked up three of the final four wickets to fall as End collapsed from 211 for 6 to 216 all out, helping Blackheath to secure a nail-biting five-run win.
However, the player of the round gong has been awarded to Congresbury’s Joe Thompson for his all-round efforts in his side’s 67-run victory over Uphill Castle.
Thompson put on something of a one-man rescue mission with the bat, walking out with his side teetering on 109 for 5 and immediately losing his first partner (Jos Tomlinson), before blasting 52 runs off 37 deliveries to carry his side beyond 180.
He was eventually removed by Hayden Watts (caught Finn Churchward), with Congresbury going on to set Uphill Castle a target of 191 to win.
Thompson’s half-century included six fours and three sixes, and opener Michael Fisher (39 off 35) was the only other Congresbury batter to pass 20.
Voneus Village Cup player of the round
Preliminary round: Jonty Oliver (Hambledon)
Round one: Zak Rogers (Barrow)
Round two: Louis Storey (West Chiltington & Thakeham)
Round three: Joe Thompson (Congresbury)
And he was straight into the action with the ball, removing George Chapman for a four-ball duck before ripping through the middle order as Castle slumped from 21 for 2 to 52 for 6.
Thompson finished with figures of 5 for 37, including two maidens. Four of his victims were out caught, with wicketkeeper Justin Yau responsible for three catches, while Tom Llewellyn was bowled.
Congresbury will face Wembdon in the Somerset & Avon regional final on June 4.
Keep up to date with the Voneus Village Cup by following the competition on Twitter (@TheCricketerNVC) and Instagram (@villagecup)
