Limavady crowned Senior Cup Champions
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Des ‘Dekker’ Curry celebrates winning the Nothwest Senior Cup after Limavady defeated Brigade at Eglinton.
The 2008 Northern Bank Cup Final the pinnacle and most vanquished cup with in the North West Union took three days to declare a winner as David Cooke steered Limavady to a three wicket victory over Brigade.
Rain was the deterring factor as showers were forecast for the entire weekend. Play got underway on schedule and with Limavady skipper David Cooke won the toss and used the historical analysis that the Village ground usually offers something for the bowlers in the first hour as the basis for his decision to put Brigade in. When Iftikhar Hussein then planted one straight into the hands of Simon Dunn at midwicket from the very first ball of the match, Cooke's decision looked positively genius, and as wickets tumbled with monotonous regularity thereafter, we feared that another one day final was on the cards. Scoring proved very difficult for the champions, but in truth the dismissals of Hussain, Wasti, Smyth et al weren't exactly down to unplayable bowling. Charlie Elder dug in and played a skippers role to top score with 37 but despite a few blows from Stephen Scroggie and Mattie Moran the general consensus of opinion was that their 165-9 from 50 overs was at least 30 below par. Not for the first time in a cup final Simon Dunn was the most successful Limavady bowler as he picked up 3 wickets.
The Roesiders reply started reasonably but when Decker Curry played on to Gordon Cooke with just 20 on the board the belief in the bowling team lifted visibly and McGregor, Riddles, Sabir, Cooke and Mark McDaid all followed to leave Limavady reeling on 85 for 6. It was obvious now that runs weren't going to come for free and Brigade's tails were up. With 40 overs on the board they had struggled to 109 but as the rain drew ever nearer, Richard McDaid and Chris Moore battened down the hatches to bring their side to within touching distance of a lead, however minimal. McDaid reached his half century, a brilliant effort in the circumstances, with a big six just before the skies opened. As the stumps were pulled for the night Limavady were still 21 runs in arrears with 3 overs to bat and the classic final that everyone had hoped for may yet be about to unfold.
Day two of the Senior Cup Final Limavady were looking to capitalise as Richard McDaid finished with a powerful 66 not out while Chris Moore on 31 was out caught by Scroggie off the bowling of Gordon Cooke for as the scoreboard read 154 for 7. Limavady trying to have a cushion of a lead into the second innings. The all-rounder had time for one more big six into the car park before the 50 overs were up and eventually finished unbeaten on 66 which included 3 fours and 3 sixes as his side emerged from the first round of combat with a mere 5 run lead. Testimony to the innings that McDaid came up with was the fact that it came off 102 balls, evidence of how much he refused to take chances with his wicket and that maturity certainly met with the approval of his team mates.
