Chambers mops up Man of the Match award
Netherfield CC, Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup winners 2010 |
Netherfield captain Marc Hadwin lifted the
Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup at West Cliff after his side
completed a tense six wickets win over Blackpool in the final
to complete a highly successful day of the best in Northern
League cricket.
Paul Danson's Blackpool side fought tigerishly
in the field to protect their modest total of 98 for 8 on a
damp and slow-paced pitch but teenagers John Huck and Ben
Barrow kept their nerve to steer their side over the finishing
line with four balls in hand.
Nathan Chambers was Netherfield's hero with the
ball, taking sensational figures of four for 8 in his four
overs to put the skids under Blackpool.
The young seam bowler was a clear choice of Man
of the Match after claiming the wickets of Craig Outram and
Blackpool professional Nimesh Perera in his opening spell
before returning to add the scalps of Alex Smith and
Danson.
Smith battled well to make 36 off 37 balls with
opener John Mounsey grafting his way to 27 off 40 balls in
difficult conditions.
Netherfield's out-cricket was excellent with
professional Nick Kruger pulling off a sensational catch in
the deep to claim Danson's wicket and Barrow equalling that
effort with a fine boundary catch to dismiss Steven
Mercer.
Kruger, Matthew Clinton, Rishi Girdhari and Hadwin
all claimed one wicket apiece to compliment Chambers' heroics
with the ball.
Netherfield looked to be coasting as Kruger and
Shane Dixon posted an opening stand of 57 under glowering
skies.
But Alex Smith completed a fine all round
performance by accounting for Dixon, bowled for 15 and Kruger,
sensationally stumped by Rob Sissons for 33 on his way to two
for 15 off his four overs.
Ben Haddrick was bowled by Mike Tidmas for 5 and
Chris Parry caught by Mercer off Andy Hogarth for 5 as
Blackpool tightened the screw.
But Huck kept his nerve to
hit an unbeaten 22 off 17 balls and Barrow finished unbeaten
on four as Netherfield won in the last over as light drizzle
fell.
Richard Gleeson bowled his four overs for seven runs,
including that Twenty20 rarity of a maiden over, with Tidmas
taking one for 18.
Latham
Baxendale Twenty20 Cup runners-up Blackpool
|
League President Brian Standing made the
presentation of the winners and runners-up medals to the
players before handing over the Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup
to skipper Hadwin.
League
President Brian Standing presents Netherfield captain
Marc Hadwin with the cup |
On behalf of the sponsors John Avison made the
Man of the Match award presentation to Chambers in the
gloaming at a quarter to eight.
On behalf
of the sponsors John Avison presents Nathan Chambers
with the Man of the Match
award |
Preston CC chairman Younis Patel and his
committee worked tirelessly to defy the wretched wet
conditions of the previous week and put on a terrific
match-day presentation with the food of top quality.
The
Preston groundstaff were working from early morning to get the
ground ready after overnight rain and enable the event to
start at 11am as planned.
And the competing clubs and their supporters
contributed to a terrific day's entertainment with DJ Mike
Dugdale (Kendal CC) doing a sterling job with the music.
Most of the Northern League clubs were
represented and a crowd of several hundred enjoyed a fine
day's entertainment with the weather gods mercifully sparing
us of the rain that the dark skies threatened.
Holders Preston were pre-Finals Day favourites
but they were inserted by Blackpool skipper Danson after he
won the toss and they struggled to 93 for 7 in the first
semi-final.
Jonty McDonald top-scored with 19 not out as
Blackpool imposed a stranglehold, pro Perera taking two for 9
from his four overs and Gleeson two for 18. Wicketkeeper
Sissons was involved in two run outs and a fine stumping to
dismiss Andy Roberts. Smith took one for 14 from his four
overs, claiming the vital wicket of Preston captain and pro
Bilal Asad for 15.
Lukman Vahaluwala was unable to bat having split
his webbing in the game against Morecambe on Saturday but he
contributed fully with the ball, taking three for nine from
his four overs.
But Andy Furniss batted splendidly for
Blackpool and saw them home by four wickets with a fine
undefeated 50 off 53 balls, sharing a third wicket stand of 68
with Perera after Blackpool were rocking at 7 for 2.
In the second semi-final Lancaster reached 104
for 7 with skipper Michael Stevens making 31 off 44 balls and
Andrew Fletcher 30 off 27 balls. Barrow claimed two run out
assists and a catch with Matthew Clinton taking three for 24,
Chambers one for 17 and Kruger one for 23.
Kruger then hit a controlled unbeaten 40 off 36
balls to see his side home by eight wickets with 6.3 overs to
spare, sharing a second wicket stand of 62 with Haddrick who
made 33 off 27 balls.
Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup Finals
Day
at
Preston CC
First Semi-Final:
PRESTON v BLACKPOOL
Blackpool won by 4 wickets
Preston 93 for 7 (20) Blackpool 94 for 6 (19.2) (A Furniss 50no, N Perera 30, L Vahaluwala 3 for 9)
For Scorecard - Click Here
Second Semi-Final:
LANCASTER v NETHERFIELD
Netherfield won by 8 wickets
Lancaster 104 for 7 (20) (M Stevens 31, A Fletcher 30, M Clinton 3 for 24) Netherfield 105 for 2 (13.3) (N Kruger 40no, B Haddrick 33)
For Scorecard - Click Here
Final:
BLACKPOOL v NETHERFIELD
Netherfield won by 6 wickets
Blackpool 98 for 8 (20) (A Smith 36, N Chambers 4 for 8) Netherfield 101 for 4 (19.2) (N Kruger 33)
For Scorecard - Click Here
Man of the Match:
Nathan Chambers
Umpires:
Kevin Hart,Phil Whatmough and Garry Parker
