By Michael Latham
Darwen's
team and supporters celebrate Readers Cup success
|
Darwen won the Readers Cup after defeating
Morecambe in a thrilling final played in front of a large,
sun-kissed crowd at Woodhill Lane. John Cordingley's talented
young side beat Morecambe by 18 runs though the result was in
doubt until the last few balls of a superbly contested
final.
Neil Cordingley lifted the Man of the Match
award for a superb innings of 71 but was pushed hard by
team-mate Chris Clarke whose off-spin accounted for four
Morecambe batsmen in a crucial spell that cost only 23
runs.
Darwen's out-cricket was outstanding with Kamran
Anwar and Nathan Jackson in particular taking fine catches in
the outfield and pro Mohammad Zaman Khan running out his
opposite number, Mandla Mashimbyi with a direct hit to mark a
crucial turning point in the contest. The game was also marked
by two fine wicketkeeping displays by Morecambe's Lewis Edge
and Darwen's Jordan Clarke.
Invited to bat by Morecambe captain Tommy Clough
Darwen lost their first two wickets for 39 with the prolific
Zaman Khan caught at mid on by Mark Woodhead off Mashimbyi for
8 and the in-form Jordan Clarke adjudged leg before to Reg
Cupit for 14. But Neil Cordingley and Alex Davies batted
sensibly to lay the foundations for Darwen's challenging total
of 189 for 5 in their 40 overs.
The talented 15-year-old Davies, the Cedric
Rhoades LCB Player of the Season in 2009, confirmed his rich
potential with a highly responsible innings of 45 off 83 balls
while his elder partner went on to reach 71 off 86 balls, the
pair adding 83 for the third wicket. After reaching 50 off 70
balls Cordingley went on to hit eight fours before he was
bowled by Chris Willaims.
Darwen skipper John Cordingley batted fluently
to make an unbeaten 25 off 18 balls with Chris Clarke making
10 not out from five balls as Darwen posted 84 from their
final ten overs.
Morecambe skipper Clough bowled an economical
spell of off-spin to concede just 20 runs from his eight overs
with Williams taking two for 40.
Cumberland CCC batsman Ikram Ullah threatened to
take the game away from Darwen as he batted superbly to reach
34 off 40 balls with six fours before he was caught by John
Cordingley off Chris Wade.
Several Morecambe batsmen made starts without
going on to make the big innings that was needed to reduce the
scoreboard pressure. Mark Woodhead was bowled by Kamran Anwar
for 9, Phil Dennison caught superbly by Anwar off Chris Clarke
for 28, Chris Williams bowled by Wade for 8 and Ryan Smith
fell to a well-judged catch by Jackson in front of the
pavilion for 6 as the home side slumped to 94 for 5.
Edge partnered Mashimbyi in a stand of 41 for
the sixth wicket that threatened to bring Morecambe back into
the game until he was brilliantly stumped by Jordan Clarke for
17. When Clough, Saturday's match-winner against Chorley was
caught in the deep by Anwar third ball Morecambe's hopes
rested with their professional.
Kamran
Anwar celebrated catching Morecambe skipper Tommy
Clough |
But after making 33 off 38 balls Mashimbyi was
run out by Zaman Khan and with his departure went Morecambe's
victory hopes. Jordan Clarke made another stumping to dismiss
Alex Thistlethwaite off Zaman Khan and Morecambe's innings
closed on 171 when Graeme Cassidy was caught by Davies in the
deep for 12 off Khan.
Chris Clarke took the bowling honours with four
for 23 but received valuable support from Wade (two for 25)
and his professional (two for 23).
Neil Pullen, representing the sponsors Readers
made the choice of Man of the Match and decided that Neil
Cordingley's valuable innings coupled with his six overs for
35 edged him above team-mate Chris Clarke in the
reckoning.
League
President Brian Standing makes the Man of the Match
award to Neil Cordingley |
League President Brian Standing duly made the
presentation of the Man of the Match award to the Darwen all
rounder. Mr Pullen and League Chairman Norman Poole then
presented silver runners-up medals to the Morecambe side and
the runners-up cup to captain Clough.
The Darwen team then received their individual
gold winners' medals before John Cordingley was presented with
the Readers Cup and Shield. Darwen also receive £250 of
clothing vouchers from the sponsors.
Readers
representative Neil Pullen and League Chairman Norman
Poole present the Readers Cup and Shield to Darwen
skipper John Cordingley |
The Darwen side then celebrated their success
with their large travelling band of supporters as the sun set
on a wonderful exhibition of the best in Northern League
cricket.
The umpires were Tommy Wilson and Bill
Burrow.
Morecambe CC staged the game exceptionally well
and are to be commended for their organisation in what was one
of the highlights of the season.
RESULT
Readers Cup Final
Division One
at Morecambe
CC
MORECAMBE v DARWEN
Darwen won by 18 runs
Darwen 189 for 5 (N Cordingley 71, A Davies
45), Morecambe 171 (C Clarke 4 for 23)
The scorecard can be found
here:
http://npcl.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11095670
