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Horsham hold nerve to take Cockspur Cup honours
Horsham were crowned Cockspur Cup champions for 2005 after a thrilling last-ball victory over Barnt Green at Lord's. The Sussex side posted 220 for nine in a match reduced to 40 overs by the weather, and then restricted their midlands opponents to 217 for eight after they failed to get the nine runs needed off the final over, and four off the last ball. The game was delayed due to a deluge of overnight rain, but still provided a magnificent spectacle for the recreational club game in general. Barnt Green were only able to manage a single off the final delivery from Horsham skipper Luke Marshall, who secured the National Knockout for his club for the first time.
Horsham's
innings was built around 64 from Howard Kasey and 50
from fellow opener Craig Gallagher, who put on 93 for
the first wicket, with Sussex's Chris Nash making 58
at number three. But
with former England spinner Richard Illingworth (3-27)
and his son Miles taking four wickets between them,
Horsham were denied the huge total that looked likely
when they sat at 199 for three, a lower-order collapse
threatening to derail their early good work. Matthew
Dallaway powered Barnt Green towards their target with
64, putting on 69 for the first wicket with Hall (36). But
although James Samworth came in at number six and
fired a rapid 60, he was denied the necessary support
to keep the Midlanders up with the run-rate. When
seven remained to be got from four balls, left-hander
Simon Frogatt ventured to clear the short boundary with
a big heave, missed and was lbw to 24-year-old
Marshall. Off
the next ball Gareth Williams was run out attempting a
risky single. Samworth got two from the penultimate
ball, but a four off the last delivery eluded him. Marshall,
understandably overcome by events, paid tribute to his
young side, averaging only 24: "Chris Nash has
been the star of the competition for us because he
has scored a load of runs, and Mark Nash has performed
well with the ball - but is in the field where we have
really shone." Marshall
has led his side from the front all season and his
brave bowling at the death as well as masterminding
their tactical assault on this year's Cockspur Cup has
earned him another accolade. He
has been named as this month's Wisden Cricketer Club
Cricketer of the Month, sponsored by Cockspur Rum. Leading
them in their march to Lord's started in May when
Horsham beat Dulwich in the group stages. Victories
against East Molesey and Beckenham saw them top the
group to set up a regional final against
Walton-on-Thames. After
cruising to victory by eight wickets they went on to
beat highly-fancied Tedddington in the sixth round and
Sunbury in the quarter-finals, then defeating Havant
in the semis to book their passage to the final. Horsham
became the second Sussex side to lift the trophy after
Eastbourne's triumph in 1997. As
well as picking up the £6,000 winners cheque Marshall
will lead his side out on an all-expenses paid trip to
Barbados for the 28th annual Rumsey Pro am this
November with a host of ex-Test cricketers including
Nick Knight, Robert Croft, Phil De Frietas, Steven
Rhodes, Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash. Marshall
wins a certificate, a bottle of Cockspur Rum and a
Woodworm bat as his prize for being this month's
Cockspur Club Cricketer of the Month. He will also be
a guest of honour at this year's Club Cricket
Conference Annual Luncheon held at the Cafe Royal on
Monday November 28 where the Cockspur Club Cricketer
of the Year will be announced. Cockspur
Cup Final: Horsham
220-9 (40 overs): HJ Kasey 64, CI Gallagher
50, CD Nash 58, R Illingworth 3-27, RJ Hall 2-28 Gallant
runners-up from Barnt Green |
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