After a slow start to the season, including a dramatic Roses defeat at the hands of traditional rivals Lancaster, the gentleman (I use the term liberally) of York headed west on the back of six successive victories to once again do battle with the Red Rose.
The men of UYCC were facing a team that had remained unbeaten all season and the opposition were surely confident of victory. York also fancied their chances. Having an almost full strength squad to choose from, Captain Andy Kirkwood had a very strong side at his disposal, and the match was perfectly poised to be a classic cup final.
After a customary perusal of the wicket, Captain Kirkwood lost the toss and York were asked to field first on a pitch which looked like it offered something for both bat and ball.
Lancaster’s openers struggled early on against the pace of Hughes and Gillespie but were able to negotiate the new ball. After a couple of lusty blows from Lancaster’s left hander, Marley Ali, Illingworth and Bradshaw replaced the opening bowlers. Finding a way to break up the first wicket partnership was proving a difficult task for York’s bowlers and approaching drinks Lancaster were 100 for no wicket, things appeared to be going the way of the Red Rose.
However, cricket is a sport which thrives on ebbs and flows and like the British summer’s weather things can change very quickly. The introduction of spin in the guise of Fraser Crawford and Alex McDonald gave a bit more cutting edge than the seamer’s had been able to provide.
McDonald picked up the important wicket of Ali, who was bowled having passed his half century. Crawford, rarely having bowled for UYCC before, picked up three wickets and played a large part in preventing Lancaster from ever really kicking on from the solid base given to them by their opening partnership.
Decent death bowling form Hughes and Illingworth, who picked up a couple of cheap wickets at the end, restricted Lancaster to a score of 231. York were chasing a competitive score but felt confident with the batting depth available that it was eminently attainable.
McDonald and Illingworth walked out to the crease to begin UYCC’s chase after rain delayed the start of the second innings. York started quickly with boundaries flowing but Illingworth would soon depart caught hooking.
McDonald was joined by recently-crowned York Sportsman of the Year, Tom Brandreth. McDonald was now starting to play his shots, peppering the arc between mid-on and mid-wicket with boundaries including one particularly delightful lofted 6.
The exuberant nature of his batting would prove to be his downfall as one too many aerial shots saw him caught for 31. This brought Crawford to the crease, who delivered perhaps the innings of the day. A majestic 71 compiled predominately of boundaries, including sumptuous drives and powerful pulls looked to be seeing the White Rose home in style.
Alas, cup finals rarely pass without drama and when Crawford was controversially dismissed LBW York still needed over 100 to win with only four wickets remaining, with Brandreth, Hughes and Kirkwood all having fallen during Crawford’s knock.
Wicket-keeper Rob Dickinson and soon-to-be cup final hero, Tom Williams, now joined each other in the middle whilst onlookers from both sides nervously surveyed what was becoming an increasingly tense affair.
The coolest men around seemed to be York’s number 7 and 8 batsmen who enjoyed arguably the most important partnership of the day. Williams and Dickinson did the simple things correctly, taking singles to the outfielders and punishing any loose bowling; it was intelligent cricket executed perfectly.
There was, however, one more twist in the tale. As the sun beamed down and the clouds departed, York passed the 200 mark and seemed to be cruising to victory once again. Dickinson was then dismissed for 42 and nerves set in amongst the away end once more. Bums were twitching, nails being bitten and Kirkwood could be seen pacing up and down at a furious pace, he was moving quicker than he had in the field all day.
Nick Townson then joined Williams at the crease, Townson used all of his experience to ably support his colleague who was in full flow by now. The eighth wicket partnership took UYCC to the brink of victory before Townson chipped off with 2 required for victory, by this point the boys form York were all but home and dry.
Aptly it was Williams, finishing on a fantastic 45 not out, who scored the winning runs with a delicious shot for 4 that summed up his performance with the bat. York had won the Cup in dramatic fashion and it was no less than deserved with an all-round performance which showcased the strength in depth that this team possesses.
Celebrations lasted long into the night and many a sore head was experienced the next morning but these will have been eased somewhat in the knowledge that it has been a brilliant season for the cricket first team. Having topped the league winning the Cup was a befitting way to sign off the 2012 campaign.
York Team: Illingworth, McDonald, Brandreth, Crawford, Hughes, Kirkwood, Dickinson, Williams, Townson, Gillespie, Bradshaw