HAGLEY Cricket Club's indoor team smashed their way to a top honour by winning the National Indoor Championship final at Lord's.

The Worcestershire side, who were unbeaten throughout the Winter season, defeated Broadstairs in the final of the competition which is played by teams of six players in a 12 overs per innings format.

Batsmen scoring 25 not out retire from the innings but are allowed to return to the crease if all the other team wickets fall.

Hagley travelled to Lord's on March 25 to battle it out first in a semi-final against Yorkshire team Woodlands.

Woodlands batted first and scored 88 all out before Lee Nightingale (28*), Joe Lennon (26*) and Michael Stead (23*) eased Hagley to victory for the loss of just one wicket.

The win saw Hagley through to the last game of the championship, which attracted entries from 1,200 teams, to take on Broadstairs from Kent who were well supported and determined to take home the trophy after being runners-up in recent years.

Lennon won the toss and asked Broadstairs to bat first, they lost Andrew Bailey for six bowled by Stead, Elliot Fox and Isaac Dilkes scored well before Fox retired on 25.

Captain Andy Marshall was quickly run out for two and Dilkes was also run out for 23 (both by Joe Lennon).

Part-time bowler Nightingale then bowled Matthew Frewin for 19 before trapping Luke Palmer LBW for one to leave Broadstairs 79-5.

Fox returned and played an excellent innings as the last man standing and kept going to the end of the 12 overs, ending on 62 not out as Broadstairs reached 114-5.

Broadstairs had the perfect start as Lennon was run out by Marshall for one but this brought together Nightingale and Stead.

Stead survived a run out chance first ball but both reached 25 and retired, Broadstairs regained the initiative as Fox dismissed Daniel Giles first ball before Ed Rhodes was bowled by Dilkes for three.

Jon McDonnell paired up with the returning Stead and they added 25 before McDonnell was run out by Fox for 16, this brought Nightingale back and he and Stead showed excellent composure to guide their team to victory, taking the final 27 runs from just nine balls to secure victory in the final over with Stead finishing unbeaten on 49 and Nightingale on 37.