By Michael Latham
Netherfield CC- Furness Building Society Cup winners 2009 |
Netherfield brought the curtain down on the 2009 season by lifting the Furness Building Society Cup at a sunlit Parkside Road ground.
Chris Parry's side defeated local rivals Kendal by four wickets in a tense, low-scoring final despite a superb all-round performance from Man of the Match Kevin Howarth.
Howarth hit 64 out of Kendal's total of 103 and was the only member of his side to reach double figures on a slow-paced pitch.
He followed that up with a bowling spell of four for 23 that helped reduce Netherfield to 80 for 6 before Ben Haddrick and Scott Clement combined to deny Kendal's hopes.
Netherfield captain Chris Parry received the cup from Northern League committee member Roy Booth on the steps of the pavilion.
Chris Parry is presented with the cup by Roy Booth |
After two previous attempts to stage the final the third attempt was blessed by beautiful sunny weather on a perfect day for cricket and helped attract a good-sized crowd for the climax to the season.
Kendal captain Ross McMillan elected to bat after winning the toss but openers Howarth and Gareth Ashburner struggled to pierce the field in the opening stages.
Netherfield sub-pro Jake Brown, recommended to the club by former pro and current Australia ODI star Callum Ferguson, proved an effective stand-in.
Bowling a lively left arm style the South Australian, the pro for Ribblesdale Wanderers, combined with Stuart Nixon to frustrate Kendal's attempts to take advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs.
Ashburner eventually fell to a well judged catch by Haddrick after off-spinner Chris Miller was introduced into the attack after an opening stand of 32 in 16 overs.
Kendal's main batting hopes Terry Hunte and McMillan then departed in quick succession.
Hunte was run out in bizarre circumstances by a superb throw by Ben Barrow. After a Scott Clement no-ball Hunte thrashed the following delivery, a free hit, down Barrow's throat at deep mid-wicket and was left stranded by a fine piece of fielding after a misunderstanding with Howarth.
McMillan was caught by Parry at mid wicket off Clement for a duck to leave Kendal struggling at 45 for 3 at the midway point.
Chris Parry swoops to catch Kendal skipper Ross McMillan |
Though Howarth battled on, eventually reaching his 50 off 95 balls, he received precious little support., eventually falling victim to a sharp stumping by John Huck off Marc Hadwin for 64 to leave Kendal 97 for 6.
Paul Dodds was trapped leg before by Clement for 9 and Dominic Du Plessis became Barrow's second run out victim.
Brown then came back into the attack to demolish the tail, accounting for Jack White and Ben Simm in successive balls and wrapping up the innings by bowling Stu Parkin after Nick Lewthwaite was stumped by Huck off Hadwin.
Brown finished with 3 for 15 with Hadwin (2 for 12), Clement (2 for 38) and Miller (1 for 14) combining with Nixon (none for 21 off 8 overs) in a fine bowling effort. Kendal were dismissed for 103 in 37.1 overs.
Despite losing Craig Walmsley early, caught by McMillan off Parkin's first delivery for 5, Netherfield looked in total control as Alex Atkinson and Brown combined in a second wicket stand of 60.
Atkinson batted confidently and hit two sixes and two fours in his 27 before he was caught by Hunte off Ben Simm.
When Brown fell two runs later, caught by White off Howarth for 19 Netherfield began to wobble.
Huck was superbly caught behind by Du Plessis off Howarth and Parry trapped leg before. Howarth claimed his fourth victim when Barrow became Du Plessis's second victim.
Five wickets had fallen for just 15 runs and Netherfield, at 80 for 6, still had work to do.
But Haddrick and Clement calmed their anxieties and took their side over the finishing line. Haddrick hit four fours in an unbeaten 19 and Clement had the honour of making the winning run in the 31st over.
Kendal conceded 13 wides and that statistic, combined with their failure to use up their overs, cost them dear with runs at such a premium.
Scott Clement hits the winning run |
