LICHFIELD’s play­ers will be eager to lay ghosts to rest on Thurs­day when they meet London in the 2017 Church Times Cricket Cup final at the Walker Cricket Ground in South­gate, London.

Lichfield has ap­­peared in the final four times in the past seven years, and lost every time. On their last two appear­ances, in 2013 and 2014, they were defeated by London, who have lifted the trophy for the past four years.

Much to nobody’s surprise, Lon­don have reached this year’s final with relative ease. They came top of group 3, then prevailed over Bristol in the quarter-finals, even though one of their star batsmen, Sam Rylands, switched sides after starting training at Trinity College, Bristol. A semi-final against Leeds (whom they beat in last year’s final) was won effortlessly, by 89 runs.

Lichfield secured a quarter-final place after coming second in group 1. They beat their rivals Coventry in the quarter-finals by 8 wickets, and Canterbury-Rochester in the semi-finals by 24 runs. The Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Mark Rylands, has shone at the crease, clocking up 61 n.o. in the semi-final.

Lichfield will be hoping that the presence of one Rylands — and the absence of another on the opposing side — could help them to clinch victory this time.

The match begins at about 11 a.m. and will finish in the early even­­ing. All are welcome. Christ Church, South­­gate, which overlooks the ground, will be open during the match for prayer, and perhaps some tea and cake.