A new state-of-the-art cricket dome in Bradford hosted a festival of tapeball cricket on the occasion of the Core Cities National Tapeball Finals last week. The Surrey Cricket Foundation (SCF) and the Club were well-represented by the South London Capitals, with both the men’s and women’s teams venturing up north to compete.
The recently opened dome, boasting 10 net lanes, showcased the kind of facilities that are planned to be built in the host cities of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The national tapeball competition, funded by the ECB and featuring teams from 11 core cities, was a fantastic display of this growing format of cricket.
Tapeball cricket uses a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, offering a fast-paced and accessible alternative to hardball cricket. Originating in Pakistan and India, the tapeball game is a great way for players to hone their skills outside the traditional format.
The men’s competition was a nail-biting affair, with short-fire games keeping the tension high throughout the weekend. After battling through group stages and thrilling semi-finals, the South London Capitals faced off against the Kirklees Hawks in the final. The Hawks’ experience proved decisive, as they chased down a target of 40 runs within four overs to secure victory.
The women’s competition on Sunday mirrored the men’s in its excitement, with many players experiencing a significant step up from their regular games. After another action-packed day, Slough emerged victorious over Manchester, capping off a fantastic weekend for tapeball cricket. While the South London Capitals women’s team fell short of the group stage, they thoroughly enjoyed representing Surrey at the finals.
Gavin Reynolds, Cricket Participation Manager at SCF, said: “We are very proud of the South London Capitals’ performance at the Core Cities National Tapeball finals. The finals weekend was a fantastic celebration of the sport and both our teams enjoyed themselves thoroughly!
“Tapeball is such a fun format of cricket that is opening the doors of the sport to so many people across our county and throughout the country. I look forward to seeing it flourish yet more in Surrey and south London this summer.”
With the indoor season drawing to a close and the summer programme ramping up, planning is already underway for a South London tapeball league later this year. Stay tuned for more information – for any enquiries regarding the Tapeball Leagues, contact greynolds@surreycricket.com.
