National Village Champions

Sheriff Hutton Bridge won the Npower National Village Cup in dramatic fashion at Lords when they became the first side in the 34 year history of the competition to successfully chase a target in excess of 200 when they beat Kent side Eynsford C C by 4 wickets with just 8 balls to spare. The Bridge were following in the footsteps of fellow Hunters York & District Senior League sides, Sessay who lost to Troon by 18 runs in 1976 and Woodhouse Grange who, after beating Tiddington by 14 runs in 1995 failed to lift the trophy for a second time when they lost by 20 runs to Linton Park in 1999. The Bridge pool of 15 players was reduced to 14 when all-rounder Dave Gilbertson who was the only player to have previously played at Lords as a member of the Woodhouse grange team, declared himself unfit after sustaining a shoulder injury on the previous Saturday. There was better news regarding Steve Crowder who’s badly bruised thumb from the same league game had recovered sufficiently for him to take his number three spot in the Sheriff order. After Eynsford’s captain had elected to bat first, Bridge’s young skipper Paul Scaling proudly led his side down the famous steps, through the legendary Long Room and out on to the sun-bathed hallowed turf for an 11 am start. His side showed no signs of awe relating to either their illustrious surroundings or the presence of a crowd of around 2500 and soon tasted success when Dave Houldridge struck in his second over when teenage keeper Adam Fisher held a good catch to dismiss Gary Atkin for 2. His partner, James Ashdown went in to the finale having scored three centuries in previous rounds. However their was to be no further big innings from him as he was totally beaten by Nick Scaling’s pace and saw his stumps flowing in all directions after he had made just 8. Eynsford’s problems continued when Houldridge gained a second scalp when Ian Playfoot fell for 12 to a good catch at backward square leg by Peter Crowder which left the Kent based side reeling on 30-3. Any hints of Yorkshire complacency was dispersed as Jamie Wise and Paul Geear mounted a rescue act. After a tentative start the pair blossomed and more than refressed the balance of power. The stand reached 50 off 60 balls and had expanded to 94 when Paul Oldfield’s call into the attack paid dividends when he had Wise caught in the deep by Danny Snowballafter he had made 52 in a 75 minute innings which saw him hit 9 fours and a six. Oldfield then induced Howard Collins to hole out to Dave Houldridge for 8 but then suffered from the swashbuckling approach to batting displayed by Dom Syers. He rapidly made 16 but, in attempting a fifth boundary, was caught on the boundary in the shadow of the pavilion by Paul Scaling off Mike Sinclair.s bowling. Oldfield then took his fourth wicket, clsing with 4-52, as Adam Fisher pouched a second victim and successful LBW appeals by Nick Scaling and Dave Houldridge closed the innings on 201 after 38.5 overs. Houldridge’s figures of 3-21 off 6.5 overs were he pick of the bunch with Nick Scaling taking 2 for 28 in support of Oldfield’s four wicket haul. Sheriff Hutton Bridge were given an excellent start as Ian Clish, in particular, scored rapidly. With Paul Oldfield batting in his usual solid fashion, the score moved pleasantly to 50 without loss in 31 minutes at a run-a-ball and it was something of a surprise when, at 60 Oldfield fell to a juggled slip catch by Krishnan Nadendla for 18. Clish and Steve Crowder continued in un-troubled fashion and had taken the total to 93 when, after opening his bowling stint with two wides, Ian Playfoot had Clish caught on the short cover boundary for 37 after the opener sensed a gift boundary off another wayward delivery. This dismissal triggered a mini-collapse which unclasped the Bridge’s apparent grasp on the trophy. Firstly Paul Scaling fell to an outfield catch by a sub fielder after scoring just a single then Peter Crowder played on to a delivery from skipper Ben Wise and was out for 2. The third wicket to fall in a bad spell for the Bridge which produced only 12 runs was that of Nick Scaling who was bowled for 1 by Nadendla and left the Bridge in a state of disrepair at 126-5. Having watched this mayhem from a distance of 22 yards, Steve Crowder found a useful ally in Mike Sinclair who helped to add a valuable 43 before being caught for 18. His replacement was 17 years old Adam Fisher who arrived to join Crowder with 33 runs required at more than a run a ball. The youngster showed a cool nerve as he played a series of elegant shots and fed the bowling to his more senior partner with a sense of purpose that belied his tender years. Crowder moved to a priceless half century off 90 balls and sensing the need to accelerate began to take chances. This paid dividends and he was dropped at long off when on 55 by Nadendla who not only spilled the chance but allowed the ball to cross the ropes for an important four. A late bowling change proved to be disastrous as Crowder hit a six and a four and he was able to complete a job well done when he hit the winning runs off the fourth ball of the penultimate over. He remained unbeaten with 76 to earn a bottle of champagne as ‘Man of the Match’ whilst the youthful Fisher made 14 not out. Robin Marlar in his after match speech quite correctly spoke of a wonderful game of cricket and gave credit to both sides for both their sporting attitude and their competitive approach. He questioned how a side containing three ‘Wise’ men could lose and speculated that the fact that the winners name had strong cricketing connotations in ‘Hutton’. He sympathised with the sporting losers and saluted the victors who became the fifth Yorkshire name on the trophy.

A view to remember

Team Photo

The team that won at Lords

Scorecard

National Village Cricket Championship Fi
Eynsford CC v Sheriff Hutton Bridge CC at Lord's

Sheriff Hutton Bridge CC beat Eynsford CC by 4 wkts.
Eynsford Batting Score Card
G Atkins c Fisher b Houldridge 2
JE Ashdown b Scaling 8
J Wise c Snowball b Oldfield 59
IT Playfoot c P Crowder b Houldridge 12
PA Gray c S Crowder b Houldridge 47
HJ Collins c Houldridge b Oldfield 8
DS Syers c P Scaling b Sinclair 16
BC Wise c Fisher b Oldfield 11
D Wise Not Out 9
R Dell lbw b N Scaling 0
K Nadendla lbw N Scaling 2
Extras (0b 5lb 21w 1nb)

All Out, 38.5 overs

201

SHBCC Bowling Score Card

D Houldridge 6.5, 2, 21, 4
N Scaling 7, 1, 28, 2
M Sinclair 9, 0, 45, 1
D Foxton 4, 0, 27, 0
P Oldfield 9, 0, 52, 3
D Snowball 3, 0, 23, 0

SHBCC Batting Score Card

PM Oldfield c Nadendla b B Wise 18
IR Clish c Atkins b Playfoot 37
SD Crowder Not Out 76
P Scaling c Syers b B Wise 1
PA Crowder b B Wise 2
N Scaling b Nadendla 1
M Sinclair c Collins b Playfoot 18
A Fisher Not Out 14

Extras (1b 3lb 27w 5nb)

Total 6 wkts, 38.4 overs

203 for 6

DNB
D Foxton
D Snowball
D Houldridge

Eynsford Bowling Score Card

K Nadendla 9, 0, 42, 1
R Dell 3,0, 25, 0
B Wise 9, 2, 31, 3
D Wise 9, 0, 48,0
IT Playfoot 7.4, 0, 42, 2
DS Syers 1, 0, 11, 0


Eynsford CC
G Atkins, J E Ashdown, J Wise, I T Playfoot, P A Grey, H J Collins, (wkt), D S Syers, D Wise, B C Wise, (capt), R Dell, K Nadendla,

Sheriff Hutton Bridge CC
P M Oldfield, I R Clish, S D Crowder, P Scaling, (capt), P A Crowder, M Sinclair, N Scaling, A Fisher, (wkt), D Foxton, D Snowball, D Houldridge,

Umpires: D Brandon, R D Froditt

Toss: Eynsford CC won the toss and decided to bat

Action

Pictures from the day

Lifting the cup!!

Nick Scaling (Left) and Danny Foxton (Right) celebrating there success.