Junior Cricket: Hero Alistair Cripps holds nerve to give Rastrick win

Jul 7 2009 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HERO CRIPPS HOLDS NERVE TO WIN

ALISTAIR CRIPPS was the Rastrick hero as they lifted the Under 13 Examiner Romida Salver in thrilling style.

The man-of-the-match took a wicket and conceded just four runs from his two overs as Almondbury Wesleyans set a target of 87-9 in the 20-over final at Upper Hopton.

Cripps then showed commendable cool in the run chase, hitting the winning runs with three balls to spare after Rastrick had needed 19 off the last three overs.

His performance – Cripps finished 20 not out – was picked out by umpires Mick Onions and Richard Pearce as the outstanding effort in a gripping final, which was watched by a large and sun-drenched crowd at the picturesque Jackroyd Lane ground.

Skipper Rohan Randhawa, opening the innings, was the mainstay of the Wesleyans batting with 20, while Jake Robshaw (10) and Daniel Netherwood (14) also made double figures as the Kaye Lane club progressed from 46 at the half-way stage to post that tally of 87 in the face of some excellent catching and fielding from Rastrick.

Matthew Rowles took two wickets in his three overs, which cost just nine runs, before taking over as wicketkeeper while Jordan Ghani, Sunil Singh, Adam Taylor, Clayton Smith, Thomas Garwood and Cripps had one wicket apiece. Skipper Bradley Birkhead conceded just 14 from his three overs.

The Wesleyans, who had Netherwood to thank for a last-ball victory against Augustinians in the semi-finals, then put up a spirited show in the field to take Rastrick all the way.

Randhawa conceded only six runs from his three overs (and took a wicket), while Netherwood bowled three overs for just 11. Then Saqib Matlub produced an excellent spell of three for five in his three overs to keep his side right in the hunt.

Solid contributions from opener Adam Taylor (21) and skipper Birkhead (23) meant Rastrick had a base, though, and Joshua Smithurst scored a valuable eight when the going got tough.

It was Cripps, however, who shouldered the bulk of responsibility towards the end and did the business with some fine shot-making.

His match-winning effort was the culmination to an excellent day’s cricket.

Rastrick defeated Golcar by eight wickets in their semi, dismissing the Colne Valley side for 62 (Ben Quinlan 22) with Singh, Ghani and Smith all taking two wickets.

Wesleyans won their semi, as mentioned previously, by overhauling 99-4 off the last ball of the innings.

Skipper Tom Doyle (25) and Callum Taylor (20) were the best of the Augustinians batting while, for Wesleyans, Randhawa hit 25 and Matlub 27 before Netherwood’s heroics in a dramatic finale.