Dishy dishes up the goods to kill Elvaston's dreams
by Alan Rowley, 9th September 2001

Opening fast bowler Paul Discombe returned the competition's best-ever final bowling performance to leave the Elvaston dream in tatters. His 6 for 18 is the first time a bowler has taken six wickets in the final.

Elvaston were well beaten in their attempt to win the Village Cup for a record equalling third time. The Derbyshire County League side were steamrollered by Swansea Valley side Ynystawe in the final played at Lord's on Sunday September 9th 2001. Ynystawe won the game by 99 runs.

Elvaston lost the toss and the Welsh team decided to bat. This is the point that Elvaston probably lost the game as skipper Richard Johnson (pictured right) has made no secret of the fact that Elvaston are a much better side when batting first.

Ian Hall and Andy Barrett opened the bowling for Elvaston and did an excellent job in restricting the Welsh boys to just 20 from their first ten overs. James Bodill dropped Mike Hayden off Hall in the fourth over and had to leave the field after the ball struck him in the mouth. Hayden went on to make 19, but Hall was to gain some compensation for Bodill's lapse as he trapped Hayden leg before to claim the first Ynystawe wicket with the score on 27.

Shaun Murray and Simon Thompson replaced the Elvaston opening bowlers and Ynystawe attempted to step up the tempo. The fifty came up after 113 balls and the run rate was creeping up towards three an over.

Paul Birch replaced Murray, who was proving expensive, and the move paid off as Bodill caught Evans off Birch's third ball. Johnathan Hubschmid, a member of the Glamorgan under 19s, was batting patiently at the other end, and with ten overs left, he had helped the Ynystawe score on to 94 for 2.

Hubschmid's fifty came up in the 31st over off 91 balls and included seven fours, but he fell to a brilliant run out from Rob Torry (pictured left) going for a suicidal second run when on 51. Ynystawe 107 for 3.

Gareth Bishop replaced Hubschmid and was soon dropped on the square leg boundary by Rob Torry before he had troubled the scorers. This was to prove costly as the pair put on 67 for the fourth wicket.

Andy Beasley, who has represented Wales at under 19s, scored an excellent 48 from 47 balls hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes. He was eventually bowled by Hall as Ynystawe moved on to 174 for 4.

Bishop was next to fall at 176, caught by Bodill off Barrett for 24 and Gethin Jones and Chris Keen were left to take the Welsh side on to 190 for 5 from their 40 overs. In the last ten overs 96 runs were added to the Ynystawe total, mainly due to sloppy fielding and conservative field placings. Elvaston were to regret not applying more pressure at this crucial stage of the game.

When Lee Archer and Richard Johnson walked out to the crease to start the Elvaston reply, the early morning sunshine had given way to cloudy skies and the stiff northerly breeze made for unpleasant viewing for the disappointingly small crowd. The Welsh contingent, however, were soon in fine voice as the Elvaston wickets began to fall like the proverbial leaves in autumn.

Paul Discombe (pictured right), 'Dishy' to his friends, was about to produce the best ever bowling performance in a Village Cup final. Bowling from the pavilion end, he had the Elvaston batsmen in all sorts of trouble as they trooped back to the dressing room in a steady procession.

Archer was first to go, bowled by Discombe for two with the score on ten. Paul Birch (1), Andy Brear (1), Richard Johnson (17) and Simon Thompson (1) all fell soon after and Elvaston were in disarray at 33 for 5.

Rob Torry (left) put some pride back into Elvaston's reply with an excellent 45 from 39 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes, but he was fighting a lost cause. When Discombe came back for his second spell, he soon had the rest of the Elvaston batsmen back in the pavilion to finish with the amazing figures of 6 for 18. The Elvaston dream had turned into a nightmare.

The Ynystawe skipper David Llewellyn holds the Village Cup aloft
surrounded by jubilant team-mates

The game was played in an excellent spirit and proved that village cricket is thriving. The standard of play was first rate throughout, especially from the Welsh boys, and the Elvaston supporters trooped back up the M1 a little disappointed but having had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Click here for the match scorecard