Christ Church University became the first students’ team to win the county six-a-side indoor cricket title on Sunday – but they did not know for sure until two days later, writes Alan Bensted.

Broadstairs, the losing finalists, had protested that CCCU’s match-winner, Aiden Griggs, was an illegal player but, after lengthy talks between the ECB and KCB, CCCU’s triumph was confirmed on Tuesday.

A spokesman said: “We have looked at lots and lots of rules and from what we can see and, in the spirit of cricket, we have decided that Christ Church go through.”

So the road to Lord’s is still open for CCCU. They take part in the regional play-offs at Portslade on Sunday and the regional and national finals could follow.

On Sunday, at the Kent Academy, eight hours of high drama has ended in chaos. Griggs, opening for CCCU 1st in the final, had clinched what seemed to be a famous victory off the penultimate ball of the tournament.

But hardly had the students’ celebration begun than there was a furore involving players, umpires, officials and spectators.

Broadstairs claimed that Griggs, CCCU’s hero with an undefeated 53, was not eligible as he had previously been in the university’s second side in the First Division of the Pharon League before being promoted and re-registered with CCCU 1st, the eventual league champions.

Before the raucous climax to a memorable final, at the fall of CCCU’s fifth wicket last-man standing Griggs had been asked to add another 21 runs.

And he duly obliged, closing with a single to the mid-wicket wall off Andy Marshall. What followed left a sour taste. Presentations did not take place with the trophies remaining on the table.

Opening earlier for Broadstairs, Marshall had carried his bat for 33. Taking almost suicidal risks running between wickets, Matt Frewin – with two sixes in his unbeaten 26 – and Jack Wheeler (22) helped him to a total of 117-4.

In reply, CCCU were always ahead of the required rate but, despite 22 from Mike Rose, lost wickets regularly during the second half of their innings.

Griggs kept his cool. Without any alarms, he hit the nine runs that were required from the last over.

Until the final, none of CCCU’s opponents could live with them. Not only did they skittle Bapchild for a duck (see this page), they then bowled out Hayes (Metropolitan League) for 28 in 6.5 overs and won by five wickets. Briggs was CCCU’s only batsman out (for three).

Thanet champions Broadstairs reached the final after beating Selsted (Shepway) by 61 runs, then Betteshanger (Dover), all out for 47, by five wickets. Broadstairs’ Eliot Fox took 4-9 in three overs.

In the day’s opening game Betteshanger had routed Capel (Maidstone) for 51 and won by 120 runs – another result that again emphasised the superiority of East Kent leagues’ representatives over other Kent districts. Hayes had knocked out Holmesdale (Sevenoaks) before meeting CCCU.