Cricket: Cockbain’s charges keep grip on trophy

Sep 10 2007 by Paul Edwards, Liverpool Daily Post

AT THE beginning of what could be yet another trophy-filled end to a cricket season for Firwood Bootle, Ian Cockbain’s team won the LCB Knockout Trophy for the fourth successive year yesterday, defeating Bolton League side Breenmount by 29 runs in the replayed final at Brandlesholme Road.

Making light of losing last week’s toss for venue, and also being asked to bat on a wicket which offered John Ashworth’s bowlers plenty of early help, the Wadham Road side hosted a competitive total of 173 all out in 45 overs.

They then defended that score by dismissing Greenmount for 144 with a bowling and fielding performance which was gripped with both talent and an unquenchable will to win.

“It’s certainly up there with the rest of our Lancashire cup successes,” said a very proud Cockbain. “People were thinking our name wasn’t on the cup after the first game was rained off but I felt we were favourites, even playing on Greenmount’s ground, because I thought we were the better side.”

Every one of Cockbain’s players justified their captain’s confidence over the course of six hours of compelling sporting drama on the outskirts of Bury.

Despite being found out by some accurate seam bowling on a green strip, Bootle recovered from 71-6 courtesy of a beautifully paced innings of 68 off 85 balls by man of the match Graham Lloyd. The ex-Lancashire favourite was also provided with measured support by Will Purser, Gavin Reynolds and especially Ronnie Davies, whose explosive 23 gave the visitors’ last few overs some much-needed late momentum.

However, while Bootle’s batting was resourceful and gritty, their bowling and fielding was the epitome of relentless, aggressive, unyielding cricket in a match where the outcome was never anything like certain until the final ball.

Although Adam Warren and Ronnie Davies each had an early success, Greenmount’s Andy Kerr and Asha Zaidi took the total to 81 in the 20th over before Warren returned to have Zaidi leg before wicket. Next over Stephen Parry tempted Kerr to sky the ball to long-off where Will Purser claimed a fine catch and signalled the beginning of the end of Greenmount’s dominance.

The home side lost their last eight wickets for 63 runs in 21.3 overs as Craig Prince, Ian A Cockbain and Purser again all clung on to difficult chances and Neil Williams’ wicket-keeping offered unobtrusively brilliant support.

“I thought Neil was just magnificent” said Cockbain. “If he’s not the best wicketkeeper in Lancashire, I’ll eat my hat.”

Spearheading Cockbain’s five-man attack, Warren was a model of bristling aggression and returned figures of 3-10 while Parry’s nine overs cost just 19 runs and Gavin Reynolds claimed three important late wickets. Cockbain’s leadership was impeccable.

In the event, the final may not have been the runfest some pundits had predicted – only two sixes were hit all day – but that will do nothing to lessen the sweetness of Bootle’s triumph.

Cockbain’s team were tested by a good side who were playing on their own manor. The men from Wadham Road dug deep and prevailed again.

CHESTER Boughton Hall all-rounder Warren Goodwin starred as Cheshire dominated the first day of this season’s four-day Minor Counties Championship final against Northumberland yesterday.

Goodwin finished the day unbeaten and four runs short of his debut century as Cheshire closed on 169-0 having routed their hosts for 176 at Jesmond Cricket Club.

Goodwin’s fluent 96 included 19 boundaries, with 80 of his runs coming from fours and sixes.

Scorecard: Northumberland 1st innings: 176 all out, 51.5 overs (M Dale 37, N Dumelow 6-74, A Syddall 2-45, D Woods 2-12) Cheshire 1st innings: 169-0, 43.1 overs (W Goodwin 96 not out, D Leech 53 not out).