Cardiff win Universities Challenge

Date released: 30 June 2009

Winning feeling: Wadlan celebrates Bradley Wadlan's unbeaten 88 steered Cardiff UCCE to victory against Leeds/Bradford UCCE in a thrilling MCC Universities Challenge Cup Final at Lord’s.

Report by Jack Hyom at Lord's

The Welsh side looked beaten at the 30-over mark, but Tom Allin, who also claimed 3-45 with the ball, made a vital knock of 28 not out as he and Wadlan built an unbroken partnership of 95 for the seventh wicket and chased down 237 to turn the match on its head.

It was a rematch of the MCC Twenty20 tournament semi-final and Leeds/Bradford posted 236-7. Big hitting Alex Blake posted an impressive 70 and all-rounder Duncan Snell made 62 before being run-out after a call for a quick single by Blake.

Big hitter: Alex Blake Once the prize wickets of Blake and Snell were taken, the mid-innings acceleration ground to a halt and the runs dried up - setting Cardiff a reachable target.

However, early in Cardiff’s reply Leeds/Bradford made a vital breakthrough. Toby Roland Jones clean bowled South African danger man Ryan Bishop (30) in an impressive opening spell, as they looked to overcome their Challenge Cup Final defeat against Loughborough last year.

Jones and Snell took the first four wickets between them as the run-rate fell substantially. Both Alex Senn (23) and Stuart Ransley (18) gave their wickets away cheaply after promising starts as Cardiff slumped to 145-7, with spin bowler Daniel Woods bowling well for his 3-30.

After a patient start, man-of-the-match Wadlan opened his shoulders and hit the majority of the 34 runs scored in the 41st and 42nd overs as Cardiff took the required run-rate from more than a run a ball to fewer than three runs an over.

Fittingly Wadlan hit the winning boundary with an exquisite cover drive and threw his arms in the air in celebration to cap a remarkable turnaround as Cardiff UCCE won the title with seven balls remaining.

Women's result

Loughborough’s Women’s team were the second side of the day to win at Lord’s as they totally outclassed a Best of the Rest MCC University XI on the Nursery Ground.

Loughborough UCCE chased down the target with nine wickets to spare, with Emily Marriot hitting an unbeaten 98 as the team raced to 205-1.