Match Reports
Anne Hepworth Memorial Trophy Final
(Sunday 9 September 2007)
Sandal 259/4 (Ian Shuttleworth 105, Kristian Shuttleworth 99)
Rothwell 238/7 (Nigel Danby 74, Dave Evans 54, Simon Danby 43 ; Saqib Nazir 3-33)
Sandal were crowned champions of the Pontefract and District Cricket League's Anne Hepworth Trophy by beating Rothwell in a high-scoring final at Frickley Colliery.
Brothers Kristian and Ian Shuttleworth were in superb batting form as Sandal posted a formidable 259-4. Underdogs Rothwell's spirited reply fell narrowly short on 238-7.
Sandal won the toss and elected to bat on a good-looking batting track. Openers Kristian Shuttleworth and Matt Hawkins put on 58 in the first 10 overs before Phil Wood had Hawkins caught at mid-on for 21.
Kristian and Ian Shuttleworth then entertained the spectators as they set about the Rothwell attack in brutal fashion - putting on 159 for the second wicket. Kristian was caught on the boundary in the 36th over for a magnificent 99 but brother Ian continued to wreak havoc with some huge hitting.
Ian Shuttleworth's 'man of the match' 105 featured five sixes and 11 fours enabling Sandal to score 112 runs from the last ten overs as Rothwell's bowlers were put to the sword.
In reply, Rothwell were always going to have difficulty keeping up with the required run rate of 6.5 an over. Saqib Nazir had Simon Booth (19) caught behind and then Will Myers took an excellent catch on the boundary off Amijid Sadiq's bowling to dismiss Mike Burnett (9). Simon Danby (43) soon followed bowled by Carlton Siddle to leave Rothwell 74-3 after 15 overs.
Sandal had a stranglehold on the match but Nigel Danby (74) and David Evans (54) loosened that grip as they shared a workmanlike 122-run partnership which gave Rothwell renewed hope and they needed 90 from the last 12 overs with 7 wickets left.
Sandal's 5th bowler for the day Kristian Shuttleworth held his nerve at the death to take 1/38 off the last 6 overs at one end while the re-introduction of Malik Ali & Nazir at the other end proved decisive as first Nigel Danby edged to keeper Hawkins off Ali and then Nazir hit the stumps twice in the same over to remove Evans and Wood. Jim Davis also importantly bowled 2 tight overs at the end as Rothwell fell 21 runs short of what a high total set by Sandal's excellent batting.
