National Indoor Finals 2025

Date: Sunday 6th April 2025

Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

Competition: ECB Indoor 6-a-side National Club Championship – Semi-Final

Result: Whitstable CC - Indoor won by 24 runs

A Historic Day for Ferndown at the Home of Cricket

Ferndown Wayfarers CC - Indoor A capped off an outstanding indoor campaign with a memorable appearance in the semi-final of the ECB Indoor 6-a-side National Club Championship, played at none other than Lord’s Cricket Ground—the revered Home of Cricket.

After battling through the regional rounds, the team earned their place in the national finals weekend. Facing a strong Whitstable CC - Indoor outfit in the semi-final, Ferndown won the toss and elected to field, keen to make early inroads on a high-profile stage.

The fielding unit was sharp, producing three run-outs—including one from Alex Sansom—and Daryl Baines claimed a wicket to keep Whitstable under pressure. However, late acceleration from Whitstable’s middle order pushed their total to 125 for 4 from 12 overs.

In response, James Raftery led the charge with a composed 40 from 28 balls, ably supported by Sansom (18) and Freddie Pittaway (15). At 69 for 2, Ferndown were firmly in the contest, but a tight spell of bowling saw wickets tumble, including three to Alexander Cook. The innings ended on 101 all out, leaving Ferndown 24 runs short of the target.

Match Highlights:

• James Raftery: 40 (28 balls) – led the chase with maturity and flair
• Alex Sansom: 18 runs & involved in a key run-out
• Freddie Pittaway: 15 off 8 balls in an energetic knock
• Team Fielding: 3 run-outs showcased sharp work under pressure

From the Captain:

“Playing at Lord’s was something special — though I’m still waiting for my honorary cap from the MCC. Proud of the lads for leaving everything out there. And hey, we made it to Lord’s… we’re basically pros now, right?”

— Eric Linge, Indoor Captain

Though the team fell just short of a place in the final, this semi-final appearance marks a significant milestone in Ferndown’s indoor cricket journey. Competing at Lord’s is an achievement few grassroots clubs experience, and the team can take great pride in both their performance and the manner in which they represented the club. To do this in back to back years is a great credit to all involved.

A huge thank you goes to all players, supporters, and organisers who helped make this incredible run possible.

📸 Gallery and photos from the day coming soon!

📰 Stay tuned for more updates as we build toward the summer season.

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