The Royal Navy break a run of 8 successive RAF IS wins over them dating back to 2022

On a lightly overcast afternoon with a cool, gentle breeze, Ben Johnson and Sam Hewitt opened bat for the Royal Navy, against Tom Birzen off-spin, of the Royal Air Force, in the opening match of the Inter-Services T20 tournament, which was being at Arundel Castle.  This is large ground, which looked pristine and was surrounded by a variety of mature deciduous trees of multiple shapes and stunning Spring colours from lime green through to deep shades of burgundy red, with the castle hidden just to the south, and is arguably one of the prettiest grounds in the country.   The game started well for the RAF, who contained the Navy in the first 6 overs of Power Play to 37 for 0, after which they dispersed much of their to the boundary, clearly with the aim of containing the score further.  Recognising this, Johnson and Hewitt started to open up their batting, when suddenly in the 8th over Hewitt fell to all from Shorthouse with a thick edge caught behind by the keeper (Adam Sutcliffe). 45-1.  Undeterred, Johnson and Noah Mclennan took the game to the RAF and started to pile the runs on.  Other RAF bowlers Jack Fuller, Jon Hawk, Harry Hollingsworth and Touseef Ahmad couldn’t make dent and the Navy 92 for 1 off 13 overs and Johnson had made 50; so, with wickets in hand he began to accelerate and quickly scored 3 sixes and a four, taking his score to 83 and the Navy quickly to 126 for 1 in 16 overs before falling to a catch by Tom Shorthouse on the boundary.  The Navy were on the front foot and pressed home their advantage and although slowing slightly they finished on 152 for 4 at the end of 20 overs and undoubtedly the RAF had its work cut out.

At 1500 prompt, under sunnier skies, the match resumed with Ben White, a fast right hand bowler zipping accurate balls down to Tom Shorthouse, who has a very strong track record of scoring over 50 in this competition and the Navy was delighted that he put one in the air after 3 balls, which was gratefully taken by Nathan Hill.  This was then quickly followed by Sam Moorby again being caught by Hill in White’s second over.  The Navy managed to contain the RAF to 38 for 2 by the end of Power Play, giving them the advantage that the Air Force was never able to come back from.  Ollie Rogoff and Adam Fisher fought valiantly in the next 6 overs; but, they couldn’t get their run rate where they would have liked it and when they started to open up both their wickets began to fall in the 12th over to McLennan, which was a big turning point in the game.  The Navy, under Hewitt and White’s bowling, further contained the RAF precipitating a collapse in the 17th over as the RAF tried to get more balls over the boundary, only to be caught.  By the 19th over, with 24 runs still required and only 2 wickets remaining, the Navy cruised to a victory by 15 runs against last year’s winners and have opened up the competition which will conclude at Lord’s.  At the end of the match, the Navy Captain, Marine Finlay Marks (47 CDO) spoke to BFBS and congratulates Adam Fisher on reaching 500 runs in the men’s IST20.  He felt it was massively important to the team to dismiss Tom Shorthouse so early in the game, as his track record for scoring over 50’s is formidable and congratulates Ben Johnson on his match winning 83.  He is now very much looking to Lords, where he is being joined with his family and friends and again is looking forward to the competition at Lord’s and watching the game between the Army and the RAF before playing in the final match, which hopefully will be the decider for the Navy.

Fun facts from today’s game:

• The RN broke a run of 8 successive RAF IS wins over them dating back to 2022 – RN had won 1 of the previous 21 completed IS matches against the RAF.
• Ollie Rogoff was the first player to be dismissed for 49 in IST20 men’s history.
• Adam Fisher, who scored 47, became the first player in men’s IST20 to reach 500 runs.

UKAFCA Women hold nerve to beat MCC at Lord’s

On a bright, sunlit day at Lord’s, UKAFCA Women produced a disciplined all-round performance to secure a 21-run victory over MCC Women in a finely balanced contest.

MCC won the toss and, with the surface offering encouragement, elected to field. The match began briskly as UKAFCA captain Cant hit the opening delivery confidently to the boundary. Any early thoughts of a large opening stand were swiftly dispelled, however, when Barbour-Smith trapped Cant lbw with the very next ball.

MCC built early momentum. Dean looked fluent in a brief stay but was dismissed for 9 by Tyson in the third over, leaving UKAFCA momentarily unsettled. Stability arrived through a composed partnership between Cant and Potgieter. Their stand, worth over a hundred, was characterised by sharp running, sound judgement and timely boundaries to release the pressure. 

Cant’s measured innings ended on 46 from 49 balls when Routledge bowled her just as she appeared ready to accelerate. Routledge then swung the contest decisively in MCC’s favour during the middle overs, striking twice in quick succession to remove Franks and Steele. Potgieter, though, remained unflustered, anchoring the latter stages with a calm and authoritative presence.

Her unbeaten 53 from 55 balls, including four fours and a six, proved the backbone of UKAFCA’s total of 149 for 6. Tyson (2 for 14) and Routledge (3 for 9) were the standout bowlers for MCC in a disciplined effort.

UKAFCA made early inroads in reply when Till struck in the second over to dismiss Wilson, providing the ideal start. MCC recovered through Routledge and Pressly-Smith, who combined fluency with intelligent strike rotation to keep the chase moving.

Pressly-Smith’s dismissal for 23 with the score on 71 proved a turning point. UKAFCA tightened the screws through accurate bowling and alert fielding, and the required rate steadily climbed as wickets fell. Momentum became increasingly difficult for MCC to maintain.

Routledge remained defiant throughout, carrying her bat for a polished 72 from 58 balls, with five fours and two sixes. Her innings was a fine individual effort, but with limited support it proved insufficient. MCC closed on 128 for 4, falling 21 runs short as UKAFCA sealed a well-earned and controlled victory.

RAF revive campaign with commanding victory over Army

Two days after their defeat to the Navy at Arundel, the RAF responded in emphatic fashion, producing a performance of substance to defeat the Army and keep their campaign alive.

The Army won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that appeared vindicated early when Benson struck to remove Moorby for 3. Any sense of early control was short-lived. Shorthouse joined RAF captain Fisher and the pair transformed the contest with a fluent, forceful partnership that wrested momentum decisively in the RAF’s favour.

Runs flowed freely, with boundaries mixed intelligently with sharp running. The RAF raced to 50 inside five overs and reached an imposing 71 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. The acceleration continued unabated, bringing up 100 by the 10th over with Fisher leading the charge.

Fisher’s half-century, raised from just 26 balls and featuring six fours and two sixes, was an innings of authority defined by clean, confident striking. Shorthouse complemented him perfectly, operating with slightly less extravagance but no less effectiveness. He reached his own fifty from 46 deliveries before Dearden finally accounted for him, by which point the foundations of a formidable total were firmly in place.

Rogoff ensured the tempo did not dip, while Fisher pressed on superbly, eventually falling for a commanding 88 from 49 balls. His innings provided real impetus at the back end, and the RAF closed on a commanding 188 for 6 — a total that looked imposing on a good surface.

The Army’s reply never found comparable rhythm. James fell early to Hawk in the second over, and disciplined bowling combined with sharp fielding restricted the Army to just 29 for 2 in the powerplay. While the required rate steadily climbed, the chase lacked momentum.

Fletcher attempted to stabilise matters with a measured 37, sharing a useful stand with Ringrose that briefly hinted at a contest. However, Shorthouse’s return with the ball proved pivotal, his dismissal of Fletcher at 83 for 4 in the 12th over swinging the balance firmly back towards the RAF.

Ringrose continued with purpose, reaching 40 before Fuller removed him to effectively extinguish hopes of a late surge. Cross provided some late resistance with a spirited unbeaten 25 from 13 balls, but the target was already beyond reach.

The Army closed on 155 for 8, falling 33 runs short. Fuller was the pick of the RAF bowlers with figures of 3 for 28, capping a comprehensive performance that combined power with discipline and kept the RAF’s campaign very much alive.

George’s late surge seals dramatic IST20 title for Army

The final of the IST20 festival arrived with a neatly balanced equation. A Navy victory would secure the title outright, while the Army required not only a win but one of sufficient margin to overhaul the net run rate and claim the trophy themselves. The RAF, still mathematically in contention, needed an Army victory but without the decisive swing in run rate. What followed was a gripping finale that kept all three Services in the hunt until the closing overs.

Navy won the toss and elected to bat, but were unable to fully impose themselves against a disciplined Army bowling effort. From the outset scoring was tightly controlled, with Hewitt’s dismissal for 10, bowled by George with the score on 42, setting the tone for an innings built more on restraint than ambition.

There were moments of promise. Johnston, compact and technically assured, anchored the innings with a measured 46 before being adjudged leg before to Dearden. Dearden and Narayan, operating with control and consistency, each conceded just 20 runs from their spells, ensuring the Navy run rate rarely climbed beyond a run a ball.

The century was brought up only in the 16th over, underlining how effectively the Army managed the tempo. McLennan added some late impetus with 31 before falling to George in the final over, but the Navy total of 143 for 4 was one the Army felt was within reach.

The chase, however, demanded far more than a routine pursuit. To overhaul the net run rate and secure the title, the Army required 143 runs inside 14.1 overs. Anything less, even in victory, would leave the door open for the RAF; defeat would hand the trophy to the Navy.

James ensured there would be no tentative beginning. His assault on the opening over, from which 25 runs were struck with authority, instantly shifted the mood. The Army surged to 50 inside three overs, not only matching but comfortably exceeding the required rate.

Momentum, though, proved fragile. Fletcher’s dismissal for 18, bowled by Walton, gave the Navy renewed belief. The introduction of Butler and Hill tightened the screws further, and when James fell for a blistering 38 from 18 balls, caught off Hill, the chase wavered.

Ringrose was then run out for 3, leaving all three Services remarkably still in contention. Wiley removed Gabriel for 3 and Narayan followed two balls later, reducing the Army to 96 for 5 and tilting the balance towards the watching RAF as unlikely beneficiaries.

Yet cricket, particularly in its shortest form, has a habit of saving its drama for the closing acts. George, already influential with the ball, now assumed responsibility with the bat. The equation was stark: more than 20 runs were required from the 13th over to keep the Army’s hopes alive.

What followed was decisive and destructive. George struck 24 runs from five balls, turning the contest in a blink and propelling the Army past the target inside the required rate. Victory in the match became victory in the tournament, a result that moments earlier had appeared improbable.

As the light softened at the close, and the drama finally settled, England international Reece Topley presented the trophy to a jubilant Army side, whose nerve and late brilliance brought a thrilling IST20 festival to a fitting conclusion.