Final heartache again for Delph

DELPH suffered yet more heartache as they lost their third Romida Sykes Cup final by eight wickets to Skelmanthorpe at Honley yesterday.

Having made a challenging 239 for six after being put in to bat on a wicket giving some assistance to the bowlers, they then suffered at the hands of Indian Test batsman Wasim Jaffer (115no) and Qaiser Rashid (118no).

The pair put on a stand of 222 for the third wicket in a display of patience and precision.

Having lost to Honley in 2005 and Barkisland in 2008, Delph were hoping this was going to prove third time lucky, and certainly for the first half of the contest there was no reason to suggest otherwise.

Bruce Cruse and Irfan Zahoor put on 34 for the first wicket before Cruse was adjudged lbw, and Zahoor went the same way, both falling to Craig Glover.

But Bilal Khiljee dropped anchor and batted sensibly to pull his side round and with useful partnerships with Faisal Butt (25) and Arron Lilley (19), they began to post a useful total.

However, it was Matt Norvall who really gave their innings some impetus, when he joined Khiljee, the two putting on 104 for the sixth wicket.

Norvall hit two big sixes in an unbeaten 48 while Khiljee finally fell for 89 in the 50th over.