Wait is over as Delph lift Sykes Cup

AT LAST . . . Delph celebrate after winning the Sykes Cup.

CRICKET:


JUBILANT Delph finally got their hands on the Drakes Huddersfield League’s Romida Sykes Cup last night.

A decisive 57-run stand in 5.1 overs between Kevin Hook, who finished unbeaten on 44, and Luke Hargreaves — he belted 32 not out from just 20 balls — steered Grant Jones’ side to a superb six-wicket win over holders Shepley.

Resuming on 213 for three with 9.2 overs remaining, in pursuit of a record run-chase of 276 on the Honley ground, Delph had plenty of work to do.

And when they lost man-of-the-match Faisal Butt in the third over of the night — he edged a delivery from Danny Glover to wicketkeeper Greg Wood after only adding three to his overnight score of 91 — Shepley were slight favourites.

But Hargreaves, stepping up the order to give the innings momentum, immediately rewarded his captain’s bold move by square-driving a four.

He struck another boundary and two sixes, but it was Zimbabwean Hook who hit the winning runs in the penultimate over.

Jones, who tasted defeat in each of Delph’s three previous Sykes Cup finals, said: “The plan was to keep wickets in the shed for the final onslaught and it worked out well.”

There were tears when the Delph players came down from the balcony to collect the cup.

“They know what it is like to lose a final. It means a lot to them to finally win one, as it does all of us.”






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