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Competition chairman John Gauler (left) hands the Lancaster Cup to winning captain Ross Cherrington while Hatherleigh player and cup secretary Richard Tidball (far right) hangs on to the winners' medals.

THE final of the Redrow Homes sponsored Lancaster Cup was held on Friday at Lewdown and turned out to be one of the best finals for several years with a young Hatherleigh II team defeating Lewdown by six wickets with just two balls to spare.

   Lewdown won the toss and decided to bat first.  Adie Clements and Dave Ball put on 45 for the 1st wicket before Clements was LBW to skipper Ross Cherrington for 21.  Lewdown then collapsed to 77 for 5 with under 15 players Andrew Fishleigh and Finlay McLaren taking the 4 wickets. Another under 15 player Rob Cockwill took a good catch on the long on boundary to get rid of danger man Street and Finlay McLaren took a wonderful running catch to dismiss Weekes.  A revival follwed with Ed Squires (25) and Mike Jordan (28) putting on 49 for the 6th wkt to take the score to 126 for 6 with 2 overs to go.  Tight fielding and a good stumping by Ryan Davies to dismiss Jordan kept the Lewdown total to 134 for 7 off their 20 overs.

   Pick of the Hatherleigh bowlers was Fishleigh with 3 for 24 off 4 overs. The other 4 wickets were shared by the other bowlers.

   Hatherleigh started badly with Pete Holland, Ryan Davies and Ross Cherrington all out with the score at 13 for 3.  It looked like an easy win for Lewdown but the 4th wkt partnership of 103 in 12 overs swung the game.  Man of the match Christian McLaren hit 67 off 53 balls with 7 fours and 1 six and Dean Rice supported him with 45 off 44 balls (1 four and 2 sixes). When Rice was run out with the score at 116 in the 17th over, veteran Richard Tidball took his place and kept McLaren company as he took 10 off the 18th over and 7 off the 19th to leave the scores tied.  Tidball then played with the Lewdown fielders by blocking the first 3 balls of the final over and then getting the single required.

   Street was the best of the Lewdown bowlers with 1 for 16 off his 4 overs.

   Competition chairman John Gauler presented the Lancaster Cup to Hatherleigh Skipper Ross Cherrington and thanked the scorers, the umpires and Lewdown Cricket Club for putting on the Final.  He also thanked Redrow Homes for their sponsorship which was very important for the future of the Competition.  It was hoped that other clubs in the West Devon Borough would enter the Competition next year.  Anyone wanting any information should contact Secretary Richard Tidball on 01837 811188.