Cricket - Burneside's pair 120 stand sets up Trophy triumph (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cricket - Burneside's pair 120 stand sets up Trophy triumph

3:37pm Saturday 21st August 2010 in Westmorland League

Hackney and Leigh Trophy Final (at Cartmel ) Arnside 191-6 Burneside 195-4 BURNESIDE retained the Hackney and Leigh Cup on Sunday after a cracking encounter with Arnside.

On winning the toss Burneside skipper Steve Cooper had no hesitation in bowling first on what looked like a slightly damp wicket and was justified as Arnside were reduced to 13-3 inside the third over.

Danger man Adam Richardson went for a duck, lbw to Oates before Matt Brockbank was well caught by Wilson off Dixon and Adrian Lee gloved one behind.

Shepherd and Garne rebuilt for Arnside but Airey bowled a tight five overs for 21 as the score stood at 52-3 after the fielding restrictions.

When Leacock bowled Shepherd for 15 the innings could have subsided but Garne and Ben Lenton batted sensibly and punished some poor deliveriesto take the score to 160 after 22 overs, with Lenton out for 37 and Garne departing for a well-made 84 ( 11 fours and 2 sixes).

Hodgson and Rob Shepherd maintained the momentum as Arnside closed on 191-6 - a tremendous effort after the early wickets.

Burneside’s bowling spoils were shared between Dixon (2-28) and Oates (2-30), while Batty and Leacock each took a wicket as well.

Burneside lost Shepherd run out for six in the second over as they gave chase, but after that it was one-way traffic as Davies and Little built a match-winning partnership of 120 as the Arnside bowlers struggled with their lines.

Davies, in particular, drove the ball well through the covers and point and with Little playing shots all round the wicket, the Arnside fielders looked dejected.

There was a glimmer of hope for Arnside as Little was out caught off Birch for 44 as the score reached 129 but Davies continued on to 87 before being bowled by Garne.

Batty was bowled with the score on 148-4 and Arnside sensed a chance, but Burneside skipper Cooper, with 12 not out, and Oates, with a fluent and aggressive 33 not out, took the game beyond reach as Burneside achieved their target with an over to spare.

Arnside skipper Shepherd used seven bowlers to try to reduce the scoring rate, but only Birch (2-35) gave the skipper the control he needed.

Arnside's Garne finished man of the match for a valiant innings to help set a challenging total.