Halton District Cricket League

Lt Commander T Wilkinson VC Cup

BOHEMIANS deservedly won the Lt Commander T Wilkinson VC Cup by 62 runs against a below par Sutton All Stars at Widnes Cricket Club.

Bohemians won the toss and decided to bat first. They amassed a large total of 141 runs for five wickets from their allotted 20 overs.

Their strong batting performance was due to Chris Fox with 27 (two fours, six two's), and a well constructed innings of 48 (six four's, eight two's) by Martin Gardner.

Together they put on 59 runs for the second wicket in eight overs.

Gardner and Allen, run out 11, put on 42 runs in four overs for the third wicket.

Bob Spiller did not last long and was bowled by Nigel Thomas for the proverbial "duck".

Wayne Robert, 18 not out, (three four's, two two's) continued the onslaught batting and with Stan Boardman took the total in 20 overs to 141 runs (which included 20 wides) for five wickets, a formidable score.

Change-bowler Nigel Thomas bowled exceptionally well for Sutton All Stars with figures of 25 runs for three wickets from his five overs, but the bowlers did not receive good support from some poor fieldings.

Sutton All Stars innings got off to a super start with scoring 25 runs from four overs and it appeared that this was a good response although they had lost two wickets, Alan Gibbs (9), John Massey (4).

The game drifted from the fourth over of the Sutton All Stars innings.

The batsmen appeared to enjoy this their first final, but they did not chase the runs which was due in the main to the Bohemians accurate bowling which was supported by some keen fielding.

Liam Highcock with 30 runs (three fours, five twos) and Gary Critten, 15 not out, put on 38 runs for the second wicket in 12 overs with some very good solid batting but the scoring was not the required rate as they failed to penetrate the field too often, in a six over spell they only scored nine runs, all singles, against the accurate bowling of Vernon Edwards and Kevin Allen of Bohemians.

Paul Heyes was the fourth wicket to fall when he was caught and bowled for one run by Jim Nolan with the score at 76 and Nigel Thomas (2) helped Highcock to take the total to 79 for four wickets.

The successful Bohemians bowler was Vernon Edwards with two wickets for 18 runs from five overs.

Victory went to Bohemians as Sutton All Stars total was 62 runs short.

League vice-president Peter Knowles once again thanked Widnes Cricket Club for providing a splendid venue for a final.

League vice-chairman Tom Butler who replaced Mr Joe Argent presented the cup to a jubilant Bohemians captain Jim Nolan with awards to both teams and mementoes to umpires D Flanagan and D Hulstrom.

Mom adjudicator Reg Knight mentioned the batting of Sutton All Stars of Liam Highcock with 30 runs and Gary Critten, 15 not out, and also the bowling of Nigel Thomas of Sutton All Stars with three wickets for 25 runs and the batting of Chris Fox for Bohemians with 27 runs but Reg's choice for his Mom was fellow wicket keeper for a catch, help in run out, and 48 runs was Bohemains Martin Gardner.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.