OD Cuaco seal promotion to Kent Cricket League Division One

OD Cuaco Cricket Club secured promotion to Division One of the Kent Cricket League as they beat Broadstairs last weekend.

OD’s looked in trouble at 100-5 but a fantastic innings from Cameron Sanders – who finished not out on 70 – and a quick 37 from Pip France left the hosts on 249-6 from their 50 overs.

The hosts knew they needed a win against Broadstairs to be crowned champions of Division Two and they got that as they bowled the visitors out for 204.

Jamie Batten was the Beckenham club’s standout bowler, finishing on figures of 3-31 off 9.5 overs – and taking the 10th wicket to send the team into delight.

OD Cuaco captain Nick Worsley said: “There was a real sense of accomplishment as well as relief in the camp. This group of players has been playing together for six seasons now, so getting in to Division One wasn’t a one season job. It’s been a long journey. We were in a very good spot heading in to the final two games but with two tricky fixtures and needing to win at least one of them, there was that sense of relief when we got over the line.

“Our batting this season has gone from strength to strength as the season has gone on. It’s a never-say-die attitude but also having belief in our abilities to perform under pressure. Over the years this group of players has learned how to win games or cricket and Saturday was no different.

“There was no surprise that the lower order managed to resurrect the innings so well and we knew we just had to get a par score on the board to set us up for the win. No team has successfully chased against us this season so no matter what we scored, we would always have backed our skills in the field to get the win.

“Heading in to the season it was apparent that we had the strongest squad the club has ever had and having finished just outside the promotion spots two years in a row we knew this was our best chance to get in to Division One in the club’s history. There was a lot of belief from the squad and the club that we were certainly good enough to be challenging at the top of the table.

“A lot of the squad had played a lot of games over the last few years to get us in to a position where a win sealed the title and more importantly promotion to Division One. There were definitely some nerves heading in to the game due to what was at stake, but I think the overriding emotion was excitement. The boys were buzzing to get on the park and get the job done.

“Due to the hard work over the season securing the title before the final game of the season means the pressure is well and truly off heading into Saturday. We can really go out and enjoy ourselves this weekend, have some fun on the field.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge but one we are all very excited for. There are some big teams in that league, a lot of which seemed miles out of league a couple of years ago. For the majority of us it will be the highest level of cricket we have played but a great chance to improve as a team and there are definitely some winnable fixtures. I have no doubt we have the ability to establish ourselves in Division One over the next couple of seasons.”

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