THONGSBRIDGE Under 13s proved themselves the best of the best by lifting the Romida-backed Examiner Salver.
A strong all-round team performance enabled them to post a massive 162-4 total in the final against Golcar at Rastrick and then hold their opponents to 118-6.
It was the climax to an excellent day’s cricket in which Steven Asquith’s Thongsbridge side progressed by beating Birkby Rose Hill in the semi-finals before Golcar – skippered by Liam Riley – overturned Hall Bower.
Asquith provided a solid start to the Thongsbridge innings in the final with 23 including five boundaries and – despite Dominic Moorhouse taking three for 10 off three for Golcar – he was ably backed up by Ben Lindley (25 retired), Tommy Woodhead (28 retired, four boundaries) and the quick-fire Aaron Davis (25 not out including four boundaries).
Thongsbridge were also helped massively by 19 wides and 22 byes alongside four no balls and a leg bye as Golcar’s bowling disciplines were not as tight as they’d been in the earlier rounds.
In reply, Golcar made a decent start, but the bowling of Woodhead, Davis, Lindley and Max Mellor soon put them behind the clock and, after reaching 25 off five overs in the 20-over contest, they were 53 off 10.
Harry Gill and Owen Tattersley then put together a spirited partnership of 33 – Gill hitting five fours in his 24 and Tattersley four boundaries in his 26 retired – and the Golcar total stood at 86-3 off 15, leaving them with a mountain to climb.
Jack Fox (16), Dominic Ellam (14) and Frazer Beckett (12 not out) did their best to up the scoring but Golcar never threatened the target and finished 44 short.
Asquith, Connor Garlick, Mellor and Lewis Kenworthy all had a wicket apiece while Josh Ratcliffe took two for 13.
Man-of-the-match was Davis for his belligerent batting and fine fielding – including an outstanding catch.
In the semi-finals, Birkby Rose Hill totalled 83-7 against Thongsbridge thanks to 22 from Hamza Zafar and 25 from Mohammed Adam, but it was never enough as Kenworthy and Asquith both scored 25 and Woodhead 15.
Hall Bower posted 127-7 in their semi – Matthew Lindley retiring on 28, Dan Russell 19, Olivia Harding 20 and Amjad 19, but Golcar batted superbly to chase down that tally. Moorhouse and Tattersley each retired on 26 and Riley on 28 as they got home by seven wickets.
Umpires were Michael Onions and Geoff Barnard.
