CUP FINAL AT SPEN VICTORIA

By Brian Sanderson,

An early start on Sunday as the Priestley Cup Final started at 11.00 o,clock were East Bierley were playing Manningham Mills.This was  a replay as the orginal was washed out with Manningham on top.The weather forecast for Sunday was rain by 3.00 o,clock so the match was made a forty over match in the hope it could be completed  on the day.Usually the Cup Final days are full of people more interestd in drinking beer however this match did not have this problem.

Manningham won the toss and bowled first on a green wicket.The ball moved around  in the opening overs as Zeeshan Quasim and Iqbal Khan utilised the conditions. With openers Gavin Hamilton  and Mark Gill going cheaply, Luke Goddard and Andrew Rennison  put to-gether a stand of eighty-nine with both been out for fifty-one.Eat Bierley reached 182 all out in the final over. There was a good crowd as the admission was free.There was a strong wind blowing down the pitch so we sat out of the wind.

Manningham lost a wicket in the first over to a good catch by Goddard.The wind made it hard to control the ball and there was a number of wides bowled.Manningham were worried about the rain and tried to force the pace but lost wickets.It was good to talk to spectators I had not seen for a few weeks with the conversation going to the coming winter.The man of the match Norman Ali  hit three big sixes but was in vain with Manningham scoring 152.

As we were driving away the rain started so the decision was correct to reduce the match to forty overs.

The President of the M.C.C Philip Hodson give the trophies away in his new Bradford League tie. The Central Yorshire League is the only League playing on Saturday so a chance to see some more new grounds before going to Arthington  to watch the final matches of 2012 season.