CARL MAN OF MATCH IN FINAL

Picture and report by Ann Boulton

It was a night to remember for Grimsby Town CC as the team celebrated the 75th year of the club’s knock out competition by finally getting their hands on the trophy.
Skipper Richard Antcliffe had been on the losing side in three previous finals over the years and no current club member can recall Grimsby ever winning the title.
But all that changed when Antcliffe led his team out to face Hull side Fenner who were appearing in their second final in succession but have also never won the trophy.
The wet weather that had threatened to wash out the game relented and the sun came out after Fenner had won the toss and elected to bat, making steady progress at a run a ball for the first three overs until Dominic Rhodes, who had been Fenner’s star batsman in the previous rounds, gave a catch to Jim Morgan off Gary Tillison.
This was the breakthrough Grimsby needed and with only three runs added, Lee Charlton trapped Ross Davy lbw. Tillison took a second to make it 32 for three but Joe Elliott and skipper Mike Cooke began a partnership that took their side to 64 before Cooke was bowled by Charlton for 20.
Carl Taylor and George Linde then took over the attack and wickets began to fall, Joe Elliott getting out to a catch by Antcliffe off Taylor.
Mike Arundell put up a spirited defence as it looked as if Fenner would bat the overs out but Taylor took three more wickets to finish with four for 26 off his four eight-ball overs as the Hull side were all out for 99 with 10 balls of the innings remaining.
In reply, Grimsby set off steadily, Richard Ancliffe and Jim Morgan putting on 24 for the first wicket before Antcliffe was caught by Graham Williamson off Arundell who then trapped Neal Snell lbw with the score on 40.
Arundell also bowled Morgan for 28 but this brought Linde to the crease and after Dylan Barkworth took the fourth wicket with 61 on the board, the South African spinner joined forces with Steve Crossley to take Grimsby to victory in the 14th over, Linde hitting a huge six over the hedge to win the game and finish on 31 off 20 balls with Crossley making 14 off 13 balls.
Carl Taylor’s bowling figures earned him the Man of the Match award – and Grimsby Town CC became the first name on the new trophy provided by Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education to mark the 75th anniversary.
Grimsby Town would like to thank John Pettit Butchers who sponsored the final, all other 2011 sponsors, all helpers and everyone who came along to watch and make this year’s competition such a success.
Fenner
D Rhodes c Morgan b Tillison 6
R Davy lbw Charlton 12
P Scrowston b Tillison 8
J Elliott c Antcliffe b Taylor 11
M Cooke b Charlton 20
G Williamson st Crossley b Linde 7
D Parker b Taylor 5
M Arundell run out 10
D Barkworth c Morgan b Taylor 5
R Singh not out 1
J Park lbw Taylor 0
Extras 14
Total (all out) 99
Bowling: G Tillison 4-0-26-2; L Charlton 4-0-34-2; C Taylor 3.4-0-26-4; G Linde 3-0-7-1;

Grimsby Town
R Antcliffe c Williamson b Arundell 14
J Morgan b Arundell 28
N Snell lbw Arundell 2
H Warwick c Cooke b Barkworth 4
G Linde not out 31
S Crossley not out 14
Extras 12
Total (4 wkts) 105
Bowling: R Davy 3-0-35-0; R Singh 4-0-19-0; M Arundell 4-0-33-3; D Barkworth 2-0-13-1;

PICTURED: Grimsby Town's Pete Wood presenting Carl Taylor with his man of the match award.