Devon Cricket Board - Chelston spring shock in 2004 final

Chelston spring shock in 2004 final

CHELSTON pulled off one of the all-time shocks in the 54-year history of the Midas Shield when they beat Paignton IIs by five-wickets in Friday night’s final at Queens Park.

Paignton, with home advantage and a sprinkling of players with Premier Division experience, were favourites against the E Division West outfit.

But Chelston did the hard bit by limiting Paignton to 119 for six in their 15 eight-ball overs, then survived an early scare to win with two overs to go.

And their Man of the Match was all-rounder Vivek Kulkarni, although he was run close for the award by team-mate Wojciech Szymanski, who opened the Chelston reply and batted through for an unbeaten half-century.

Kulkarni picked up three early wickets as Paignton, who won the toss and batted, dipped to seven for three.

And, after Seb Benton (31), big-hitting Jon Barnes (25) and Simon Mantell (26) got Paignton back in the game at 101 for four, Kulkarni had them rocking again.

Benton chanced his arm down to Kulkarni at fine-leg and throw beat him by a distance.

Mantell went three runs later, Mark Faulkner bagging him caught by Wayne Gale, and the Paignton innings just petered out after that.

Chelston were quickly in trouble against Barnes, who knocked over Gary Brenton and Mark Treais in the first over.

Faulkner steadied the ship with a quick 20 — his pull through mid-wicket off Barnes was the shot of the night — then Szymanski and Kulkarni took Chelston most of the way home.

While Szymanski picked up the ones and twos, Kulkarni clobbered the bowling down the ground to make a quickfire 30.

Although Barnes got him leg-before in the end, the damage was done, leaving Szymanski and Gale to knock off the last dozen runs.

Paignton 119-5 (S Benton 31, J Barnes 25, S Mantell 26; V Kulkarni 3-30, M Faulkner 2-28), Chelston 120-5 (W Szymanski 50no, V Kulkarni 30, M Faulkner 20; J Barnes 3-35). Chelston bt Paignton by 5 wkts.

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