Billy Briggs Cup Final - Texacan Trousers128-9 beat Wilpshire CC 123-4

TEXACAN Trousers showed just why they are too good for Division Three in successfully defending the Billy Briggs Cup with a last over win against Wilpshire.

Forced to amalgamate two teams last year after struggling for players, Trousers underlined their true status when they beat a team still in contention for the First Division title.

Trousers, undefeated and 17-points clear at the top of Division Three, won the toss and batted first, and in Altaf had a player who was up for the cup.

For while he saw a string of batting partners come and go, Altaf rose to the occasion to produce a majestic innings that fell just one run short of his half century. And, in the end, it was his fourth wicket stand with Faruk Patel that proved to be decisive and both batsmen went to town on the Wilpshire bowling attack with a 37-run partnership that lasted five overs.

However they both appeared to have moments of madness in the 14th over and both men were out immediately after hitting a mighty six.

First Patel was caught by Neil Cordingley off Howard Blackledge after hitting a six off the previous ball. Then Altaf repeated the act with a six only to be trapped lbw off the next ball.

Blackledge can feel more than happy with his contribution of four wickets, one catch and a superb half century. Wilpshire had made the perfect breakthrough in the second over when Salim Dhila was clean bowled for a duck by Cordingley, who is currently starring in the successful Darwen side in the Northern League. And, in his next over, Cordingley claimed the wicket of Sabbir Patel for just one thanks to a fine catch from Blackledge on the boundary.

However Altaf stood firm until his lapse of concentration. But Trousers' tail-enders did their side proud to take the total along to 128 for nine.

In reply it appeared that Wilpshire were going to reach their target in no time at all as Trousers had no answer to the batting skills of Blackledge and former Rishton player David Ainscow.

The two openers put 50 runs on the board in the first nine overs before the dangerous, but erratic, Sadik Mall made the first breakthrough when he bowled Ainscow for 21.

In the next over, Peter Woodbridge went for a duck when caught by wicketkeeper Nasir Patel off the bowling of Faruk Patel.

But in Cordingley, Wilpshire have a class batsman and Trousers knew if they were to stand any chance of victory they had to split up his partnership with Blackledge.

And just when the pair had settled into their stride, Trousers captain A K Mall made the vital breakthrough when he caught and bowled Cordingley for 15. Blackledge battled on for three more overs to get his 50 but paid the price of going for a quick single and was run out.

That meant Derek Pratt and Ian Cruse had to try and get 12 runs off the last two overs but despite a brave attempt, Wilpshire fell six runs shorts and Trousers held on to the cup.

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