IN the Hyde Cup final at Widnes Recreation Club, Moorfield Casuals skipper Brian Cafferty won the toss and invited Ditton CC to take first knock.

This decision played into Ditton CC batsmens' hands as both Ste Morgan and Gareth Hatton set about the Moorfield Casuals bowler Brian Cafferty and Andrew Kirby. They scored 41 runs in 7 overs when the first wicket fell.

Gareth Hatten having scored 16 runs including 1 boundary, Ste Morgan batted splendidly for 40 runs including 3 x 4's when he was second out when he was run out, with a very good throw by Paul Fenney, out of a total of 69 runs in the 12th over.

Dave Evans 15 included two fours, Rob Yearsley three, and skipper Tony Poole with seven carried on the chase for runs taking the score into the 90s. But Moorfield Casuals bowlers Howard Fox and Paul Welden applied the brakes to the scoring rate, Welden took three wickets and Fox took two wickets. Batsmen Mark Pierce four, Paul Beddingfield one and Steve Allen nought could not keep up the scoring momentum and the total dwindled to 104 runs for eight wickets.

The Ditton CC total of 104 appeared to be formidable as the Moorfield Casuals batsmen got off to a poor start as both openers Andrew Kirby and Paul Welden failed to score.

After five overs for only five runs were scored with three wickets down, Paul Cunningham being the third wicket to fall having scored four runs, Jeff Salleh five helped Howard Fox to add 17 runs in five overs and David Moore helped Fox to add 21 runs in five overs but by then the scoring rate was not enough.

Jon Mess four and Alan McGee eight not out tried to bring the game around for the Casuals, but the task was too immense as the ball seldom reached the boundary when a heavy shower for half-an-hour, after the fifth over of the Casuals innings made the outfield very wet and it was a disadvantage to the casuals batsmen and appeared to dampen their spirits.

In their 20 overs they totalled 60 runs for five wickets some 45 runs short of their target.

The Hyde Cup and players awards were presented by Mr Graeme Chitty who was an opening batsman with the highly successful team of WJ Bush in the late 1950s. He also presented momentous to the umpires Bob Skerratt and Keith Rowles.

Mr Reg Knight formerly of Rocksavage chose Ste Morgan of Ditton CC for his valuable innings of 40 runs as the man of the match.

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