Nottinghamshire’s Sam Seecharan, Farhan Ahmed and Travis Holland proved once again instrumental as the Midlands finished Bunbury Festival as 50 over champions and T20 runners up in Loughborough.

Having won their first three games of the tournament, for which a report is available here, Midlands entered the third round robin game in the longer format, and the final of the knockout T20, with hopes of a double. 

A win over North in the 50 over competition ensured table topping success, while a first defeat of the Festival to South and West in the T20 handed Midlands second place.

Seecharan won the toss to begin the 50 over proceedings and elected to field, before a five-for from Tazeem Chaudry Ali, alongside a restrictive spell from Ahmed, stifled a strong start from North.

After openers Keshana Fonseka and Noah Kelly had put on 85 for the first wicket, Ahmed, who returned the most economical figures of any bowler in the match in his two for 16 from eight overs, put the brakes on.

He had Joe Chapple held by his Notts teammate Seecharan at long off and bowled Lucas Selby in the same over as, in tandem with Chaudry Ali, he oversaw a North collapse from 107 for two to 132 for eight.

Chaudry Ali completed his haul by bowling Louie Owens, returning figures of five for 34 in eight overs as North totalled 160 all out inside 38 overs.

Holland then got Midlands off to a flying start in the chase as he blitzed two sixes in a swift 37, adding 70 for the first wicket alongside half-centurion Sinel Gunarathne.

Midlands suffered a brief middle-order wobble, but their strong showing with the ball had handed them ample leeway in the chase, and an unbeaten 26 from Thomas Giles saw them home with more than 20 overs to spare.

You can view the scorecard from the 50 over match here.

The following day, their next assignment was the T20 showpiece, and captain Seecharan again won the toss, this time opting to bat first.

Holland picked up where he had left off the previous day, striking another maximum as he hit a 19-ball 20 opening the batting.

However, other than Yousaf Bin Naeem’s 36 from 33 balls, Midlands struggled to recover after slipping to 54 for six shortly after the halfway point.

A 45-run partnership, off the same number of balls, between Bin Naeem and Ben Clarke did ensure Midlands would see out their overs and set a three-figure target, with the innings eventually totalling 118 for eight.

Chaudry Ali was again in the wickets, taking all three to fall in the South and West’s chase including that of Eddie Campion, who was held at midwicket by Holland for 10.

Despite that, the modest target was overhauled with three overs remaining, as unbeaten opener Aadi Sharma hit a single to mid-off, ensuring Midlands would take home a silver medal to go with their 50 over gold.

You can view the scorecard from the T20 match here.

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