The report from the League Cup site can be found here soon.

Scorecard can be found here, if you get lost on the cup site.

For the Shipley report of the game click here.

Backed up by around 70 members at some point throughout the day we retained the Silver Link cup at Belper Meadows.

After winning the toss we elected to field and Dave Mudd bowled Gamble in the first over of the game to make the perfect start. After Starr was dropped by myself of the unlucky Danny Gough, (i think the technical description is a knob ender) they got to 38 before Starr was caught at Gully by a short one from Mudd.

Jonny Shales was introduced and removed Zak Hussain in his first over and then got James Cockayne who seemed to be settling in well a few overs later. After a good spell from Will Chapman the spinners were introduced and kept it tight with Andy Goodwin having Cox LBW to leave the score at 95-5 and then had the very dangerous Ahmed caught going for another massive hit with the score on 127-6.

Simon Walker was still going at one end for Shipley keeping the innings together and made a very good 55, but when he was bowled by the returning Mudd two more wickets fell quickly and Shipley were 9 down for 164. The last pair scored a further 15 before Dave Mudd had Martin Starr caught by Andy Goodwin (had to put that in after my drop) to pick up his 5th wicket and end the innings on 179. A gettable score but by no means a gimme.

Openers Jonny Shales and Dave Adams

The first ball of our innings off the quick Ahmed was hit through cover very confidently by Adams to give our supporters the perfect start. Dave Adams went when the score was on 18 and partner Jonny Shales went for 20 to leave the game balanced on 40-2.

Andy Goodwin then joined Dave Hartley and put on a partnership of 74 to put us in touching distance but when Ahmed returned to remove Hartley for a good 45 a bizzare spell of cricket occured. In the next over Tony Mudd was bowled trying to stop the ball rolling onto his stumps but only hit it on his stumps. Two balls later Goodwin was run out for 35 to leave the game balance again at 116-5, having been 114-2.

A few of the days supporters

Steve Gough, as so often this season kept his nerve though and first with George Chapman and then with man of the match Dave Mudd edged our way towards the total. With 18 needed off 18 balls Gough first swept Hussain for 4 and then swept the last ball for a massive 6 to leave 4 needed of the last 2 overs. Dave Mudd then connected with one of the balls in the next over to hit the winning runs.

Man of the match Dave Mudd

A top team effort, a good bowling performance by everyone and although a little wobble (understatement) in the middle we managed to get home. Well done to everyone, thanks for all the supporters who turned up.