When cricketers talk about “double headers” it means playing back to back games over the weekend. With the somewhat unscripted cup run, Nelson’s experienced 2nd team went into last weekend on the back of having already played 6 Saturdays against Littleborough’s 4 with them having a bye in the 1st round. The lads faced the biggest weekend of recent times, with the first junior cup final since 2013 on Saturday and then the prospect of a tough game against last year’s Cup winners Burnley 2nds on the Sunday.
DN Law Ltd were the official match sponsors, kindly providing baggy caps to the players to mark the occasion, however the unofficial sponsor was Deep Heat.
A tough team selection on Tuesday meant that spots in the final XI were coveted and with 14-15 lads in the mix, Nelson picked a strong and experienced side to challenge Littleborough.
Littleborough also picked a strong XI, which featured 50 1st XI appearances this season.
Nelson won the toss and elected to bowl, having done so successfully for most of the season.
Littleborough set off at a great rate, with a four off the 1st ball and 9 off the 1st over. The Littleborough openers put on 51 before Manaf fired and removed the top 3 to leave them 53-3. A fourth wicket on 73 left Manaf with figures of 4-43 before he handed the baton over to Andy Hakin at the “Cop Shop” end. Hakin bowled his best spell of the season, finishing with 3-11 off 8 with nagging accuracy. Pressure was being created at the pavilion end with Elliot Bradley bowling 10 overs for 29 and Chris Brooker-Carey removing the no5 and only conceding 15 off 5. Nick Burton followed on with 7 overs for just 9 to keep the pressure on Littleborough whilst Sardar Asghar took 2-11 to close Littleborough’s innings on 131 in the 45th over.
Fine catching and fielding throughout backed the bowlers up, with tough catches by Ali, Chris Gildea and Joe Whitlam.
132 to win…..
Ali and Chris Gildea made a steady start to the chase and put on a partnership of 64 before the former was caught on 32.
Chris Gildea continued to anchor the innings with Elliot Bradley before Gildea was finally out for 57 off 118 balls with just 2 needed for victory.
Caleb Lister came to the crease and hit his 2nd ball for 4 to finish the game, with Bradley unbeaten on 21.
Chris Gildea won the MOM award for his staunch 57.
Skipper Chris Brooker-Carey lifted the cup in front of a great crowd who had supported both sides throughout the match and were rewarded with some good cricket and even better weather!
Nelson add their name to the junior cup for a 5th time, having won previously in 1994, 2008, 2009 and 2013.
Recent years have seen some tough times at Seedhill, but the work and commitment by many on and off the field were rewarded with the junior cup to add to the 2nd Div 2 title won by the 2nds in 2024.
The team’s focus now turns to the league and a win by 2 wickets on the Sunday was hard fought against a spirited Burnley side, with Gildea again outstanding with a knock of 77, supported by Elliot Bradley (55), Armaan Moghal (33) and Andy Hakin (31) in chasing down 248 in the 42nd over.
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