Golcar's Steve Whitwam seals Sykes Cup semi-final win

Jul 13 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SEALS WIN!

A WELL-TIMED unbeaten 89 from Steve Whitwam along with some great support play led Golcar to a four-wicket victory over Skelmanthorpe in yesterday’s second Sykes Cup semi-final at Swallow Lane.

Chasing Skelmanthorpe’s 183-8, Whitwam batted through to see his side safely through to their first Cup final since 1963 to the obvious delight of a huge Golcar following.

A heavy downpour had interrupted the tie for almost three-quarters-of-an-hour during Golcar’s reply, but it didn’t affect Whitwam’s concentration, as he and Chris Fawcett put on a match-defining stand of 87 for the fourth wicket as a shaky start to the reply.

Both James Sykes and Craig Horner fell within two deliveries to James Crossland, and at 11-2 (and missing two of their normal first team batsmen) it suddenly looked a big ask for the home team.

But Whitwam received good support from Micky Illingworth, who helped him put on 42 for the third wicket, before Fawcett arrived in the middle and helped retrieve the situation.

Twice Whitwam flicked Crossland over the houses on the square leg boundary for big sixes, while a delightful cut behind square brought up the 100 in the 30th over.

And by the time Dominic Storey got through Fawcett’s guard and bowled him for a valuable 38 in the 38th over, the odds had swung dramatically in Golcar’s favour.

Glen Collier then offered further support to the Swallow Lane’s talisman, and he virtually put the result beyond doubt when crashing four fours in one over from Storey to lift the score to 164-4.

A couple of overs later he was bowled by the returning Craig Glover for 24, but by now it was all over bar the shouting, and although Adam France followed next ball caught behind, a classic cover drive from skipper Ashley Pamment, followed by another straight driven four made the scores level.