Chelmere Premier League Trophy 2000

Match report - 27th August 2000

Genlec Leigh celebrated its first ECB Liverpool Competition trophy success on Sunday 27th August 2000 as the team secured the Chelmere Homes Premiership Trophy with a fine 53 run victory over Ormskirk.

Winning the toss, captain Tim McKiernan decided to bat first in overcast, rain-threatening conditions. Despite finding boundaries hard to come by, Andy Batterley and Chris Hall got the innings off to a steady start with an opening partnership of 30, before Batterley was pinned lbw to left-armer Phil Unsworth in the ninth over.

Dave Dove joined Hall and continued to maintain a steady rate until Leigh lost both batters in the space of only three balls with the score on 88. Hall had patiently constructed 44 in 71 balls to form a solid base for the innings and the partnership had blunted the main bowling threat of Cheshire's Phil Armstrong and Unsworth. Dove's 21 was also a model in sensible batting.

The innings was soon put back on track with Andy Mullaney, promoted to number four, and Steve Bailey, initially steadying the ship and then taking the attack back to the Ormskirk bowlers. As the home side turned to its change bowlers so the Leigh innings slowly picked up momentum and, when Mullaney was harshly adjudged short of his ground in the 38th over, the Leythers were 138 with wickets in hand.

Michael Day came to the wicket and began to throw the bat, quite literally on one occasion, and a mix of selective hitting and positive running took the visitors towards and past the 200 mark. Day was eventually bowled for 29 in 21 balls and Bailey top-scored with 45 including four fours. Rob Clews' first-baller was only a minor hiccup as Dave Potter's six off the last ball of the innings served to underline Leigh's first-half dominance and concluded proceedings with a total of 208 from its 45-over allocation.

Despite conceding 5 extras in the first two overs, Leigh struck in the third over as Mike Holden enticed Burns to sky an attempted expansive drive straight up into the air for Hall to take the catch. Potter immediately replaced Holden and he and young Ben Cottrell exerted more pressure on the visitors, putting them behind the rate. This resulted in Toole attempting a risky single to McKiernan, who defied the years to hit direct from mid-wicket and claim wicket number two.

Holden returned at the other end and had an impact straight away, removing the influential Ormskirk captain, Snellgrove, with the score on 44. After Potter's initial burst, Leigh turned to Hall's off-spin and he continued the squeeze as the home side desperately tried to get back up with the rate.

With McKiernan constantly changing the bowlers, much to the tannoy announcers' annoyance, and the tight bowling being supported by excellent ground fielding, the loss of wickets was inevitable; when Hall bowled the dangerous Whittaker in the nineteenth over, Ormskirk were 62.

A brief rally was eventually ended when Hall picked up Taylor for his second wicket with the score on 116. With few wickets left and the rate getting steadily higher, Holden and Cottrell came back for their third spells and made further inroads. Holden finished with four wickets from nine overs for 35 runs and Cotterell also chipped in with an economical spell for one victim.

When Hall removed Sharrock with a direct hit from the boundary, Ormskirk were all but dead and buried. The innings was then fittingly finished shortly afterwards as Hall picked up his third scalp courtesy of a brilliant deep catch by Dove. Ormskirk had been dismissed for 155 and Genlec Leigh had picked up its first silverware since moving to the ECB Premier League five years ago. It had been an excellent all-round display with each of the eleven playing a full part in the team performance and sending everyone connected with the club into celebratory mood.

More of the same will be expected, however, this coming Sunday 3rd September when Leigh entertains the star-studded Bootle team in the Chelmere Homes Grand Final at Beech Walk. A carnival atmosphere is anticipated as McKiernan's men attempt to complete a unique cup double. Wickets are pitched at 12:30 and various side entertainment is arranged as well as an all-day bar. The match ball sponsorship for the final is kindly provided by First Mortgages, independent mortgage advisers. All are welcome, so why not come and support your town cricketers as they attempt to make history.