Sandiacre outclass Cavaliers to complete double
by Alan Rowley, 15th September 2002

Sandiacre Town readily outplayed West Indies Cavaliers, Nottinghamshire Premier League champions, to complete the league and cup double. In a well organised and well attended final played at Caythorpe, the Derbyshire Premier League champions beat the Cavaliers by 54 runs.

Cavaliers won the toss on an overcast morning and put Sandiacre in to bat on a slowish, flat track. A 200 score at Caythorpe is usually classed as a good total, so Sandiacre's openers John Trueman and Chris Attwood walked out to the centre with this sort of total in mind.

The Derbyshire lads started cautiously against the Cavaliers opening attack of former England Test player Chris Lewis and overseas star Carlos Remy. Dominic Williamson took over from Lewis and soon had Trueman caught by Aaron Thomas behind the stumps for 15. Sandiacre were 40 for 1 with 13 of the 50 overs gone.

Immy Ahmed came in at three and was barely settled at the crease when Williamson trapped Chris Attwood leg before with the score on 43. Keeper Ian Hopkins came and went, caught by Karl Thomas off the bowling of Atul Sashdeva for 6 and Sandiacre looked to be in some sort of trouble on 56 for 3.

Man of the Match Immy Ahmed in action

Ahmed was scoring freely at one end whilst Rob Attwood hung around at the other end, the pair putting on 38 for the fourth wicket before the second of the Attwood brothers was bowled by Sashdeva for 25. 94 for 4 with over 30 overs gone.

In the 35th over, Naeem Akhtar fell giving Sashdeva his third wicket with the score on 102. With only 15 overs remaining, it was looking like a score below 180 was on the cards for the Derbyshire lads. When Jake Needham went, bowled by Lewis in the 43rd over, Sandiacre were down and almost out at 127 for 6.

Ahmed continued to bat with confidence and reached a fine 50 off 80 balls until he was caught by Lewis, who took a good one-handed return catch. Further trouble followed for Sandiacre when Sheldon Guerra was leg before first ball to leave the Derbyshire side on 161 for 8.

Immy Ahmed prepares to face watched by keeper Aaron Thomas and skipper
Chris Lewis at first slip

Irfan Ul Haq and John Jordison saw out the remaining overs without losing their wickets with Ul Haq hitting some lofty blows to finish on 21 not out. Sandiacre's innings closed on 189 for 8 with the Derbyshire contingent feeling as if they hadn't quite done enough. However, the Nottinghamshire faithful who were out in force, knew from experience that this could well be a near match winning total.

Pick of the West Indian bowlers were Chris Lewis (3 for 29) and Atul Sashdeva (3 for 35).

The Cavaliers innings started poorly with Greg Mike back in the pavilion with the score on 4, leg before to Akhtar. Sandiacre's lively opening pace attack of Akhtar and Ul Haq had the Cavaliers' batsmen in all sorts of trouble and it wasn't too long before Andy Haye became the second wicket to fall with only 10 on the board. Haye was caught by Guerra off the bowling of Ul Haq.

Wickets fell at regular intervals. Karl Thomas was caught by keeper Hopkins off Ul Haq for 9, Remy was caught by Rob Attwood off Standring for 6 and Atkinson fell to Jordison for 27 giving Hopkins his second catch.

Steve Atkinson (left) and Chris Lewis (right) in action

Standring took his second wicket when Hopkins (pictured below) caught Williamson to give the keeper his third catch. This left the Cavaliers staring defeat in the face on 65 for 6. However, the mighty Lewis was still there, so the Nottinghamshire contingent were still talking about pulling the game out of the fire.

Monty Douglas was next to go bowled by Standring for 9 to give Standring his third victim.

Hope finally evaporated for the Cavs when Lewis went for a suicidal second run only to be brilliantly run out for 10. Sashdeva didn't last long and didn't trouble scorers Angie Marriott and Sharon Isaccs when he was caught and bowled by Guerra.

Aaron Thomas and James Angus then produced some entertaining cricket to keep the presentation squad waiting as they put on 46 quick runs for the last wicket. At last, the West Indians had something to shout about.

Angus was last man out, well caught by Jordison off Ul Haq for 29 to leave the Cavaliers 54 short with 4.3 overs to go. Standring was pick of the bowlers with 3 for 21, whilst Ul Haq posted figures of 3 for 35.

Overall a fine team performance from Sandiacre, who not only completed the double in style, but earned the title of kings of East Midlands cricket. A special mention must also go to the Caythorpe club for an excellent organisational job.

Sandiacre Town - Premier League and Cup winners 2002

Scores: Sandiacre Town 189 for 8 off 50 overs, West Indies Cavaliers 135 all out off 45.3 overs. Sandiacre Town won by 54 runs.

Man of the match: Immy Ahmed. The full scorecard can be found here.

Read: Sandiacre win battle of champions (Official site)