LSCL.org.uk LOGO

Birstall clinch crown in style with exciting win

Wed 16th September 2009

Article from the Leicester Mercury

Birstall Village are the Premier Division champions.

They clinched the crown with an exciting two-wicket victory over Newbold Verdon.

It was a home game but, because the School Lane ground is used for football from the second week of September onwards, it was switched to Ashby Carrington's ground at Ashby Folville, near Melton.

Birstall needed four points to be sure of the title and Newbold Verdon declared on 183-6 after 38 of their 45 overs. Luke Dyke hit 47, Gareth Bell 44 and Huw Davies was unbeaten on 30.

Birstall had two bowling points by that stage and Newbold skipper Neil Bateman said: "We thought we would make them work for it. We weren't just going to carry on batting and give it to them."

That left Birstall needing to reach 125, and two batting points, in their reply.

They were never really in danger of failing to achieve that and passed the magic total with four wickets down and Richard Sharpe and Julian Saye at the crease.

The outcome of the match was still in the balance when the eighth wicket fell on 161 despite Paul Snuggs scoring 29 and Andy Galpin 28.

But Sharpe (34 not out) and Prad Sood (21 not out) made sure that Birstall had a victory as well as a title to celebrate.

Sharpe's brother, Dave, has been associated with the club for 25 years and is in his first season as skipper.

He said: "At the start of the season I thought we would be mid-table. About six or seven matches in, I thought we could be in the top two or three but that we might struggle to win it because there were going to be a couple of weekends when we had players missing."

Birstall have used a total of 24 players in the first team and the skipper said: "It has been a real team effort. Somebody has always held their hand up when it has been needed."

The triumph was a double family affair. The Sharpe brothers play alongside their father, Pete, and Saye's brother, Josh, is also in the line-up.

This was Newbold's first league defeat and they finished third.

As it turned out, Birstall could have clinched the crown without a victory because Woodhouse Eaves, the only team who could catch them, lost by three wickets at Twycross.

Jordan Lee produced a devastating opening spell of 3-2 in six overs and finished with 5-18 off nine as Woodhouse were all out for 97 in 30 overs. Stu Wiles did his best to hold the innings together with 29.

Twycross slipped to 61-6 before Tim Collins mixed careful defence with two sixes and three fours on his way to an unbeaten 32. He shared a crucial stand of 33 with Lee, who scored six.

Appleby Magna finished fourth despite a seven-wicket defeat at Wigston, who were steered to their target of 197 with an over to spare by an unbeaten 69 from Michael Dunkley.

Ian Crossley's unbeaten 121 helped Huncote to 213-5 before they bowled out Broughton Astley for 97 for a 116-run victory.

Rob Dunn was the day's top scorer, cracking 131 not out in Burton-on-the-Wolds' 259-8.

Hosts Leicester Caribbeans put up a spirited chase with Kenris Galloway hitting 61 and Mohammad Khan 59 but they fell just short on 248-8.