2nd XI Chester Cup Winners 2007

Leigh 2nd XI romp home to lift Chester Cup - report & pictures !

A long frustrating summer was brought to a satisfactory conclusion as Leigh CC’s 2nd XI won the Liverpool & District Cricket Competition's Chester Cup in a convincing six-wicket victory over premiership side Sefton Park at Beech Walk.

In a thoroughly professional performance, Leigh upset the odds with a clinical display which belied their mid-table first division status. It was, however, just desserts for a side that has had to overcome the usual release of five players per week to the 1st XI, and gave notice of the side’s potential had circumstances not transpired against them.

Losing the toss was no handicap to the Beech Walkers as early tight bowling from Kieran Grundy and Craig Wilson kept the visitors in hand and, when the hosts eventually picked up their first wicket - a smart run-out - Sefton Park were only 37 in 13 overs.

Regular bowling changes didn’t allow the Merseyside batters to settle, and the introduction of Leigh’s spin twins, Kishen Patel and Mattie McKiernan, really proved the decisive moment in the first half of the game. Whilst Patel bowled the second wicket to fall, it was young McKiernan who removed the visitor’s main batter, Seabury, caught at the wicket for 40, quickly followed back to the pavillion by two bowled victims in the space of three deliveries.

Just to prove that the gods were well and truly smiling on the home side, the sixth wicket to fall was the dangerous Davies who, backing up a fierce straight drive from his partner, was run out as the ball was deflected onto the bowler’s stumps via the boot of McKiernan.

Bowling in short spells, the pressure was constantly maintained throughout the Sefton innings by all the bowlers and the visitors never looked like gaining any momentum. Justin Pugh then chipped in with another vital wicket before Grundy, returning for his third spell, and Patel, with the help of a wonder catch in the deep by Pugh, cleaned up the tail.

Whilst all the bowlers did their bit very effectively, Patel’s 'Man Of The Match' 3 wickets for 18 runs, McKiernan’s 3 for 26 and Grundy’s 1 for 26, made the headlines. The fielding had been keen, the team spirit high and the overall performance slick and efficient - Sefton’s 132 all out, in less than 43 overs, was just rewards for a brilliant all round fielding effort.

To have any real chance of causing an upset, Sefton needed early wickets. At 30 for 2 in the seventh over, therefore, they had a slight glimmer of a chance. However, controlled and aggressive batting from initially, Grundy, who was devastating on anything pitched short, and then left-handed Paul Jones, who had been recalled to the side at the last minute following an injury to wicket-keeper Joe Davies, settled the nerves of the numerous home supporters.

The third wicket 70-run partnership between these two cemented the win for Leigh and it was perhaps a touch disappointing that Grundy’s 39-run innings (1 six and 3 fours) was brought to a premature end by a run-out mix-up.

Will Banner was then also quickly run out, but Jones efficiently finished the job off with the help of Patel and scored the winning runs in the 30th over to bring home the trophy. He finished undefeated on 46, including four fours and two big sixes, in as good an innings as he has played all season.

Skipper, Tim McKiernan, said of the victory:

"On the day, we got all of our tactics and plans spot on. The lads did themselves justice and the victory is a great fillip for the club at the end of what has been a difficult season at senior level."

"At 2nd XI level, we have been devoid of many of our key players week after week, and that has made it impossible to mount the serious league challenge we would have been capable of. However, this Chester Cup win has made up for some of the season’s frustrations."

CHESTER CUP FINAL SCORECARD

Leigh 2nd XI v Sefton Park 2nd XI at Beech Walk, 9th September 2007
(Sefton Park won the toss and elected to bat)

Result: Leigh CC won by 6 wickets

Click on the thumbnails for larger pictures of the day's events: