Over 50's remain unbeaten all season.
Unbeaten in the ECB 50+ County Championship this season Yorkshire took on Leicestershire, themselves unbeaten, in the Final played at Kibworth CC last Sunday.
Under a leaden sky and a strong bitingly cold wind, Yorkshire chose to bowl with Leicester making a solid start against tight accurate bowling from Mark ‘Jockey’ Wilson (Wath) and captain Steve Wales (North Leeds). However it was spinner Haider Jahangir (Barnsley Woolly) who made the breakthrough in his first over having Tony Pridmore caught by Nick Gaywood (Sheffield Collegiate) for 22. Fellow opener Tim Moult was well caught by keeper Paul Langley (Streethouses) off the bowling of spinner Steve Booth (Collingham) for 42.
Hard hitting Raja Hayat and Craig Hendry upped the tempo in a stand of 82 threatening to take the game away from Yorkshire, especially as their own hard hitting opener Kevin Bradley (Acomb) had had to leave the field with a torn groin muscle. However the experienced slow bowler Babar Butt (Pudsey Congs) epitomised the spirit of this Yorkshire side and as Leicester sought quick runs he held his nerve and ended a seven over spell with 5/29 including three wickets in his last over. The excellent keeper, Paul Langley, recorded five victims including four stumping’s and a catch in a final Leicester total of 191/8.
In reply Yorkshire made a rapid start with a determined Bradley, in obvious pain, opening the innings with a runner (when was this last seen in a final?) coping well with the injury and scoring 47 before somewhat inevitably being run out. His opening partner Nick Gaywood went on to complete an excellent half century before being caught by keeper Pabari off bowler Russell Spiers for 51. Butt, who had come in on the dismissal of Bradley, endured a lengthy rain delay but continued to bat serenely mixing solid defence with studied big hitting and he (58no) and Haider Jahangir (19no) took the Yorkshire side to victory with 8 overs to spare. Babar Butt rightly took the “Man of the Match” award.
A victory for teamwork and “never say die” attitude which has personified Yorkshire, led by the admirable Steve Wales, this season.