Cricket: Honours even in thrilling Feversham League final (From Gazette & Herald)

Cricket: Honours even in thrilling Feversham League final

2:48pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport

GILLAMOOR and Slingsby shared the honours in what is thought to be the first tied final in the 35-year history of the Feversham Cricket League Top Four Play-off competition.

Slingsby’s captain Tom Harrison bravely gambled by bringing on left-arm spinner John Hatfield to bowl the first over at Duncombe Park .

The ploy soon worked when Mike Wearmouth (5) was the victim of a breathtaking catch in the deep by Nick Schofield off Hatfield (1-11 in four overs). Another stunning catch, by Richard Reynolds off the bowling of Ben Corner, disposed of Matt Durrant (4).

Gillamoor opener John Lumley looked in good form until Corner rearranged his stumps for 25 with the total on 58. One run later Nick Thornicroft tried to hit Corner (3-22) out of the ground, but was bowled for 22.

Mark Haines quickly accelerated to a hard hitting 40 before being bowled by Nick Schofield. Liam Allenby fell lbw to Schofield for 8 before Fraser Land took a top class catch at backward square leg off Wayne Fawcett (1-28) to remove Adam Durrant (5).

Schofield (3-21) then rattled George Lumley’s stumps for a duck, leaving Charlie Williams (6no) and John Allenby (1no) as Gillamoor totalled 122-8.

In reply, Slingsby suffered an early setback when Reynolds was caught by George Lumley off Durrant for one. Geoff Schofield, who needed Nick Schofield to act as his runner after pulling a muscle when fielding, put on 89 with Will Clayton before Schofield was yorked by Durrant for 40.

With four overs left, Slingsby required 22 runs to win, and it swung Gillamoor’s way when Clayton (40) snicked a delivery from Thornicroft to wicketkeeper Alan Wass.

Tension mounted as Slingsby desperately tried to eke out every run, not made easy by Gillamoor’s greatly improved fielding and the accuracy of Thornicroft and Haines.

Slingsby needed eight to win from the last over but Nick Schofield (8 not out) and Tom Harrison (7 not out) just couldn’t manage to force the decisive boundary and with a leg bye off the last ball, the scores were level at 122-3.

The final of the Countess of Feversham Cup between Gillamoor and Kirkbymoorside will take place at Gillamoor on Sunday (11am).

It will be a 20-over a side contest, maximum five overs per bowler, and there will be a man of the match award.

Honours board

Top Four Play-off: Slingsby and Gillamoor shared. Captains Tom Harrison and Alan Wass

Man of the match: Slingsby’s Nick Schofield, who, with having to act as a runner, was on the field the entire match

League champions: Duncombe Park, captain Brian Leckenby

Batting trophy: Brian Leckenby (Duncombe Park)

Bowling trophy: John Hatfield (Slingsby)