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A Fantastic Finals Day for the GMCL T20 Plate 2024
Tracy Bailey5 Aug - 20:51
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Wythenshawe Lions lose out to Ashton in the final by just one run….but what a match!!
So after the dust has now settled on what was a brilliant days T20 cricket for the GMCL T20 Plate Semi Finals & Final at Worsley CC, where our Wythenshawe Lions faced Oldham Lions in the 1st semi final at 10am.
Worsley CC, who incidentally were fantastic hosts, nothing was too much trouble & had provided a great set up for the whole day, they also semi finalists were to play Ashton Black Knights in the 2nd semi final at 1pm.
So onto our Lions v Lions match, whose pride was going to rule?
Wythenshawe Lions batting first scoring 166/7, a superb Captain’s innings of 68 from Jason Warner, a great knock of 33 coming from Matt Taylor too, both pretty much setting the pace for a good total for Oldham’s Lions to chase.
Oldham were somewhat blitzed by Vijay Muslapuram who was on great form today, taking 4 wickets - Oldham eventually falling short by 32 runs 134 all out in 16.5 overs - sealing Wythenshawe Lions place in the final.
Worsley Bombers up next faced a strong Ashton Black Knights who romped into the final at a blistering pace, Worsley’s gun powder never igniting, as they bowed out of the T20 Plate semi final after scoring 103/9 then Ashton getting 105/1.
So now….to the eagerly awaited final….
GMCL T20 Plate Final, Wythenshawe Lions v Ashton Black Knights, with both teams reaching the final in great style, it all came down to who could get over the line, to claim & lift the trophy.
Wythenshawe batting first lost the previous match’s highest scorer Capt Jason Warner in the first over, Matt Taylor having to then draw on all his cricket prowess to maintain the momentum, going on to rattle off a swashbuckling 37 runs, stoically supported by Paul Burrell & Dhairya Patel who both pushed the boundaries scoring 34 runs a piece. Wythenshawe closing on 144/8, a very creditable total considering Ashton’s previous line of attack in their semi final v Worsley.
Ashton started out getting scuppered early doors, Vijay Muslapuram claimed the wicket of their talisman batsman V. Chathuranga LBW.
Wythenshawe were definitely now fired up for the battle, Vijay claiming yet another wicket to take his tally to 6 over the whole day plus Matt Taylor taking 2 wickets, one a superb caught and bowled. Ashton now having to dig in deep, relying on R. Taylor to keep them on task, who went on to match Matt’s score of 37.
A real game of cat & mouse ensued, both teams not wanting to break the hold on the finely matched contest, however, it all came down to the final ball of the very last over, Ashton required 1 run to win & if Wythenshawe prevented, the match would be tied, so with a huge slog skywards from Ashton which fell awkwardly for Wythenshawe’s fielder, the crowd held their breath as it almost in slow motion, slipped out of his grasp & Ashton’s batter scrambled for the match winning run, a shattering conclusion to an absolutely fantastic game of cricket, this game of ours never ceases to amaze us just how close the line between victory & defeat really is.
Congratulations to Ashton & massive hard luck to our Lions, in Chairman Martin Kay’s speech at the presentation, he commended both teams on a brilliant match, which was a fantastic advert for the GMCL and the quality of cricket played across the league.
We must say a huge thanks to Worsley CC for putting on a great finals day, to Ben Dibben for scoring both matches & all our supporters & families who came down to cheer on the Lions, we WILL be back next year & aim to claim
the trophy…which we’ve come soooo to bringing back to Longley Lane over the past 4 seasons.
Photos & report Tracy Bailey
Match Photos Semi Final Semi Final 1 Wythenshawe Lions v Oldham Lions
Match Photos Final
GMCL20 Plate Final Wythenshawe Lions v Ashton Black Knights
Worsley CC, who incidentally were fantastic hosts, nothing was too much trouble & had provided a great set up for the whole day, they also semi finalists were to play Ashton Black Knights in the 2nd semi final at 1pm.
So onto our Lions v Lions match, whose pride was going to rule?
Wythenshawe Lions batting first scoring 166/7, a superb Captain’s innings of 68 from Jason Warner, a great knock of 33 coming from Matt Taylor too, both pretty much setting the pace for a good total for Oldham’s Lions to chase.
Oldham were somewhat blitzed by Vijay Muslapuram who was on great form today, taking 4 wickets - Oldham eventually falling short by 32 runs 134 all out in 16.5 overs - sealing Wythenshawe Lions place in the final.
Worsley Bombers up next faced a strong Ashton Black Knights who romped into the final at a blistering pace, Worsley’s gun powder never igniting, as they bowed out of the T20 Plate semi final after scoring 103/9 then Ashton getting 105/1.
So now….to the eagerly awaited final….
GMCL T20 Plate Final, Wythenshawe Lions v Ashton Black Knights, with both teams reaching the final in great style, it all came down to who could get over the line, to claim & lift the trophy.
Wythenshawe batting first lost the previous match’s highest scorer Capt Jason Warner in the first over, Matt Taylor having to then draw on all his cricket prowess to maintain the momentum, going on to rattle off a swashbuckling 37 runs, stoically supported by Paul Burrell & Dhairya Patel who both pushed the boundaries scoring 34 runs a piece. Wythenshawe closing on 144/8, a very creditable total considering Ashton’s previous line of attack in their semi final v Worsley.
Ashton started out getting scuppered early doors, Vijay Muslapuram claimed the wicket of their talisman batsman V. Chathuranga LBW.
Wythenshawe were definitely now fired up for the battle, Vijay claiming yet another wicket to take his tally to 6 over the whole day plus Matt Taylor taking 2 wickets, one a superb caught and bowled. Ashton now having to dig in deep, relying on R. Taylor to keep them on task, who went on to match Matt’s score of 37.
A real game of cat & mouse ensued, both teams not wanting to break the hold on the finely matched contest, however, it all came down to the final ball of the very last over, Ashton required 1 run to win & if Wythenshawe prevented, the match would be tied, so with a huge slog skywards from Ashton which fell awkwardly for Wythenshawe’s fielder, the crowd held their breath as it almost in slow motion, slipped out of his grasp & Ashton’s batter scrambled for the match winning run, a shattering conclusion to an absolutely fantastic game of cricket, this game of ours never ceases to amaze us just how close the line between victory & defeat really is.
Congratulations to Ashton & massive hard luck to our Lions, in Chairman Martin Kay’s speech at the presentation, he commended both teams on a brilliant match, which was a fantastic advert for the GMCL and the quality of cricket played across the league.
We must say a huge thanks to Worsley CC for putting on a great finals day, to Ben Dibben for scoring both matches & all our supporters & families who came down to cheer on the Lions, we WILL be back next year & aim to claim
the trophy…which we’ve come soooo to bringing back to Longley Lane over the past 4 seasons.
Photos & report Tracy Bailey
Match Photos Semi Final Semi Final 1 Wythenshawe Lions v Oldham Lions
Match Photos Final
GMCL20 Plate Final Wythenshawe Lions v Ashton Black Knights
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