Elsecar 205 for 8 v Methley 204 for 8

J Meadows 44, B Hunsley 35, Athukorala 37
N Connelly 101, H Khan 31; R Jones 3-46

The Sun shone out brilliantly at Armroyd Lane to confound the forecaster’s predictions earlier in the week and swell the numbers of spectators which grew through the afternoon to reach over 500 by the time a thrilling final was played to an exciting finale.

Methley, from the Central Yorkshire League, batted first and their opening pair created a stand of 105 before Elsecar claimed the wicket of Hamed Khan for a personal contribution of 31. With such a superb beginning it looked as the game might be out of Elsecar’s reaches until the spinners slowed events down and wickets began to fall. Their opener Nick Connelly was the star of the innings and he reached 101 before he failed to make his ground. His excellent contribution included 14 fours and 2 sixes. Rob Jones produced an outstanding spell to take 3 for 46 and curtail the innings to 204 for 8.

Elsecar’s innings started well too, with openers Ainsley Swallow scoring 31 and Jason Meadows 44, followed by Brett Hunsley stroking 35 and Sri Lankan Chathura Athukorala hitting a quick fire 37 to see Elsecar in front of the scoring rate. Elsecar then collapsed from 161 for 3 to 178 for 8 and the task was slipping out of their reach. In strode Elsecar’s 'never say die' stumper Andrew Joburns to strike 2 sixes and a four in a breathtaking sequence which saw Methley in despair and the Elsecar crowd in delirium.

The President of the Yorkshire Council, Paul McFarlane complimented the Elsecar club for providing an excellent organisation off the pitch and the 2 teams for an exciting and competitive final. Michael Dugher, the Barnsley East M.P. presented the awards and trophies which included the Man of the Match award to Nick Connelly for his excellent innings.

Elsecar thus won their fifth Yorkshire Council title and their first since 2003.