Denholme are Shark victims

10:16am Monday 4th August 2008

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Oakworth Sharks won the seventh Upper Airedale League under-11s Barritt-Stephenson Cup final with an eight-wicket victory over Denholme.

Oakworth won the toss and asked first-time finalists Denholme to bat first.

The accurate Ben Howell bowled Navdeep Panesar (13) middle stump to leave Denholme on 22 for one.

Leading scorer Toby Priestley fell for just two, Thomas Fothergill making a mess of his stumps. It was a major blow for Denholme as Priestley had scored over 150 runs this season.

When captain Brad Greenwood was bowled first ball by the cock-a-hoop Fothergill, things looked bad, but the batsman was reinstated, with the umpires indicating “three behind square” fielders for Oakworth.

It was a cruel blow for the young Oakworth bowler, who might have had the opportunity for a rare cup final hat-trick.

The run-rate dropped and after 14 overs the score stood at 43 for three. The Sharks smelled blood and despite an unbeaten 21 from Jibrael Malik, Denholme finished on 62 for four.

Oakworth made a slow start, scoring just nine runs from the first four overs, but after the dismissal of Oliver Huck (2) by Jibrael Malik, they moved into top gear, with Howell and Jack Keighley striking the ball beautifully before both retired with victory in sight.

Sam Nettleton was run out for four and Jack Rogers bowled Jordan Powell for a duck but it was left to Ben Wedge and bowling hero Fothergill to see Oakworth over the line, which they did with 3.4 overs unused.

The trophy was presented by league treasurer David Allen to Oakworth captain and man of the match Howell.