WOODHALL SPA WIN WINKWORTH CUP ORGANISED BY READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE

Jonathan Cheer receiving his Man of the Match award from Sarah Waldeck, director of Winkworth.

BY ANN BOULTON

Woodhall Spa are the new holders of the Winkworth Cup following an exciting final that saw Jack Luffman’s team chase down a target of 190 set by Bracebridge Heath.

Woodhall reached the final following a semi-final clash against Spalding who restricted their opponents to 147 for eight off their 20 overs despite a fine innings of 84 from Jonny Cheer.

Jack Barratt bowled an economical four overs for Spalding, taking four for 20 and when openers Warren Nel and Tim Norris put on 62 without loss, Spalding were in with a good chance of reaching their target.

But a wicket for Tom Dixon, two for Lewis Holmes and a run out reduced the challengers to 85 for four and a tight spell of bowling from Ben O’Brien put the total further out of reach.

Spalding were all out for 124 in the final over, Nel top scoring with 55.

The second semi final was a much closer affair with Bracebridge Heath piling on the runs against trophy holders Bourne.

Skipper Paul Cook hit 101 off 53 balls with 12 fours and three sixes and put on 53 for the 5^th wicket with Gloucester rugby playing brother Rob.  James Keywood then claimed two Cooks in two deliveries but couldn’t complete his hat trick as Bracebridge finished on 179 for six.

Bourne got off to a flying start with a 59 partnership between Conrad Louth (34) and Peter Morgan who hit 38 off 16 balls.  The onslaught continued through Jack Berry and Carl Wilson and Bourne were always on target for a win.

But Cook had rotated his bowlers well to slow the run rate and despite the efforts of Stuart Airey (30no), Bourne fell just six short of their target, reaching 173 for five.

This set up what proved to be a big-hitting and tense final in which Vikram Atri was the stand-out batsman for Bracebridge who won the toss and elected to bat.

Atri hit 65 off 35 balls with six fours and four sixes, putting on a quickfire 77 with Paul Cook for the first wicket.  Brett Houston continued the onslaught with 38 off 25 while Dixon was the pick of the bowling with two for 24 off his four overs.

In reply, Woodhall suffered an early blow when Houston caught and bowled Ricky Lovelace with the score on 26 but Cheer and Ben O’Brien (31 off 18 balls) added 62 and Sam Evison contributed 21.

But it was the arrival of Hughes at the crease with the score on 123 and Cheer unbeaten on 63 that set Woodhall on the road to victory.  Despite some economical bowling from Carter, this pair kept the momentum going and it was Hughes who hit the winning six to finish with 41 off 17 balls while Cheer made 87 off 57.

 Woodhall Spa captain Jack Luffman collects the Winkworth Trophy from Winkworth director Sarah Waldeck

The victorious Woodhall Spa team, Jack Hughes and Jonny Cheer back row first and second left.