CLECKHEATON'S SEMI-FINAL TEAM. (Photo published by kind permission of Charlie Perry)
Back: Neil Nicholson, Mark Cummins, Craig Thornton, Iain Wardlaw, Ian Nicholson & Craig Blackburn.
Front: Mally Nicholson, Tom Pringle, Asif Khan, Shaun Howe & Joe Bowman.
CLECKHEATON. 148 for 5 Wkts. (20 Overs)
Mally Nicholson 34, Craig Thornton 29no, Mark Cummins 29no.
PUDSEY ST LAWRENCE. 150 for 5 Wkts (18.1-Overs)
Alex Stead 77no, Gareth Clough 24 (from 9 balls), Mark Robertshaw 19.
Mark Cummins 4-0-24-2.
Batting first with a pink ball in the half-light proved a disadvantage to the Moorenders; as it did the following evening to East Bierley. Cleckheaton, despite the early loss Asif Khan, made a quick start through Mally and Ian Nicholson. By the 6th over when Ian was out, the score had been pushed to 57, but after Mally was out for 34 at 61 the innings lost its momentum as the light became more difficult. A lack of boundaries (56 of their 148 runs came from 11 fours and 2 sixes) was the main cause of Cleckheaton's disappointing total. Unbeaten scores of 29 from both Craig Thornton, who was making an appearance in the Cleckheaton side for the first time for three months after recovering from injury, and Mark Cummins, in a stand of 68, finally gave Pudsey a total to chase although the batting side had to thank the bowlers for contributing 38 extra to their cause. Spectators almost saw the spectacle of "eight wides" being called when the ball slipping from James Smith's hand as he bowled nearly reached the boundary behind the wicket without bouncing.
Opener Alex Stead spearheaded Pudsey St Lawrence's pursuit with an unbeaten 77, but the innings that really turned the match belonged to Gareth Clough who had hit 24 runs from just 8 balls before finally having his stumps re-arranged by Cummins. Further scores from Mark Robertshaw (19) and Chris Marsden (12no) saw the "Saints" home with 11 balls to spare. Cummings was the pick of Cleckheaton's bowlers. He took 2 wickets in 3 balls before finishing with 2 for 24 from 4 overs.
In the second Semi-Final on the Wednesday evening between Bradford & Bingley and East Bierley, Bierley, batting first, struggled to reach 131, a total which the Wagon Laner's reached in the last over of their innings.
In the final on Thursday night, Cleckheaton's conquerers Pudsey St Lawrence scored a comfortable win against the home side, thanks to the pair that carried them to victory against Cleckheaton. Their total of 223 owed much to a 2nd wicket stand of 143 between Stead (97 from 50 balls) and Clough (64 from 32). Their score proved far too much for Bradford & Bingley to overhaul and they finished 45 runs short on 178 despite the benevolence of the "Saints" bowlers who contributed a further 40 extras to the 38 they had previously conceded against the Moorenders. Mark Robertshaw's 4 for 21 from 4 overs proved to be the best bowling figures of the tournament, although Bradford & Bingley's Chris Thompson with 6 wickets in his 2 games was the highest wicket taker. In the three matches, he provided the only maiden overs to be bowled, and certainly the most economical analysis thanks to his figures of 4-2-4-1 against East Bierley.
Photographs by Charlie Perry from the 20/20 Floodlit Finals and other games can be viewed by accessing the following website. If any players would like prints he is very inexpensive.
7.5-inch x 5-inch prints coat £3.00 each, and he can print bigger.
www.photos-by-charlie.fpic.co.uk
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"MALLY"
Yorkshire's
TOM PRINGLE
IAN
NEIL
IAIN
Overseas player
Vice Captain
