3 minute read
Both Stocksbridge sides secure places in the cup finals
DESPITE heavy rain in the lead up to this game, the weather was holding off and the stage was set as Stocksbridge’s first XI welcomed Sheffield University Staff to Bracken Moor for the semi final of the Brian Winston Premier Cup. Captain Andy Hibbert lost the toss but much to his surprise, the visitors decided to bat first despite what seemed like testing conditions.
Jake Vickers 5-6
The innings couldn’t have started any better for Stocksbridge as Joe Hibbert picked up a wicket with the first ball of the match, this was closely followed by the second wicket just two balls later.
With the score 0-2 after the first over, Stocksbridge were now well on top. Joe Hibbert continued to bowl well and soon added a third wicket to his tally for the day. Andy Hibbert ensured it didn’t get any easier for the batsmen and he soon helped himself to his first wicket of the day.
After excellent opening spells from the father-son combination of Andy and Joe Hibbert, it was now time for the change bowlers to take the game to the Uni Staff batsmen. Jake Vickers was the first to join the action as he quickly removed the resilient opener after forcing him to play a rash shot.
Vickers wasn’t done there though as he continued to take the game away from Uni Staff. Vickers was backed up well in the field, excellent catches from Steve Perry and Liam Grayson saw Vickers take his tally to three.
Les Harris then came into the attack and claimed the eighth wicket.
Vickers then wrapped up the innings with the final two wickets to claim his five-wicket haul and ending with career best figures of 7.4-1-6-5.
Stocksbridge knew that they now required just 43 runs to secure a place in the cup final. Openers Matt Price and Jack Newton seemed in no mood to hang around as both found boundaries easy to come by.
Jack Newton was the only wicket to fall, caught at slip for 17. Price was now joined by Chris Pickford and the pair quickly put the game to bed. Pickford hit a huge six over mid wicket to take the score to 44 and secure the victory for the first XI. Price ended unbeaten on 17 with Pickford unbeaten on eight.
Stocksbridge CC second team travelled to Ridgeway CC first team for the semi-final of the Phil Denniff Intermediate Cup and won the toss with captain Chris Ogley electing to bowl first with some damp weather still around.
Chris Thwaites made an early break through leaving the home team 5-2 then took a third wicket in an excellent opening spell with Ridgeway at 30-3. Batsman Will Cooper rebuilt the innings with 52 before two wickets each for Harry Hurst and Jack Murfin leaving Stocksbridge on top at 105-7.
A late flourish got home team up to 146 before Will Cavanagh returned to the attack and took the three final wickets with great catches from Jon Pickford and Chris Ogley.
The Stocksbridge reply took an early blow with loss of opener Harry Hurst then Ant Siddall hit a useful 30 to get up to 70-4 before the drama of the game unfolded. The middle order fell quickly and cheaply apart from some positive batting from Jack Reeves leaving Stocksbridge on the edge at 93-9.
With the home team discussing where they would like the final to be Chris Thwaites and Paul Hargreaves came to the wicket with 10 overs left and 54 runs still needed. They calmly picked off singles and put bad balls away for boundaries leaving away team needing 13 off three overs and Ridgeway needing one wicket for a place in the final. It became 12 off two overs then Chris Thwaites nailed the last ball of the for six putting the score at 144-9 with one over left.
Paul Hargreaves hit two runs to level the scores before a wide delivery gave Stocksbridge the incredible win and a place in the final. The celebrations began and great credit to Thwaites and Hargreaves who kept their nerve to take the team home.
Both sides will now look forward their respective cup finals on September 14, however will now shift there attentions back on to the league. Next week sees the first XI travel to Totley Bent and the second XI host Richmond at Bracken Moor.
