Lord's, St David's (Bailey's Bay won toss): Cleveland County beat Bailey’s Bay by 61 runs

Off spinners Shaki Darrell and Dion Stovell picked up seven wickets between them for Cleveland to end the reign of Bailey’s Bay as Eastern Counties champions today.

Darrell, the MVP, secured four for 23, including the big scalps of Delray Rawlins and Tre Manders — with the former’s dismissal coming under controversial circumstances – while Stovell had three for 20 as Bay were swept away for 79 runs in 39.2 overs.

Left-arm spinner Derrick Brangman had earlier taken four for 33 to put Bay in a seemingly strong position after Cleveland were dismissed for 140 in 40.1 overs.

However, it was the decision by umpire Steven Caines to give out Rawlins caught on the first ball of the thirteenth over of Bay’s response that will be the biggest talking point of a hotly contested match.

The left-hander looked to smash a looping full toss from by Darrell over the leg-side boundary, but sliced to cover where Jason Anderson, running away from the wicket, appeared to take the catch before the ball became dislodged as he fell to the ground.

The controversy, which reduced Bay to 31 for four, led to a 20-minute delay as tempers flared, but upon resumption Cleveland piled on the pressure and completed a famous victory.

More to follow ...