Mark Reynolds reports ...
Sutton wins Kaufman Cup in final thriller
Sutton had battled hard to earn themselves a trip to Birkenhead to participate in the 2007 Kaufman Cup Final, the premier cup competition for Merseyside Competition based teams. Making a real day of it, with a bus load of spectators in tow, you could feel it was going to be a special day and the game against Birkenhead St Marys did not disappoint. Opting to bat first Skipper Gary Greener and his opening partner Mike Rimmer racked up a 50 partnership in the first hour until the captain holed out for 30. A couple of wickets then fell, but a patient stand between Scott Morris and Joe Harvey took the score beyond the century mark. No one really got in on a slow pitch but good contributions from Dodd and Moss raised the total to a respectable 154 all out. What was unknown at this point was that the home side recognised this as a very competitive total.
When the reply from Birkenhead commenced Sutton immediately gained an advantage with Dodd and Frost straight into their stride sending danger men Haq and Ford back to the shed before they could get going. Even more dangerous Shaq and McGenity then came together and were cautious in taking on Moss and Foster who bowled miserly spells that stalled the middle part of their innings. When the batsmen did decide to open their shoulders, Shaq hit a big six but then top edged Foster to see a fine catch taken by Morris in front of hostile home support. The Sutton contingent based in dingly dell started to sense that Birkenhead were running out of batsmen and that the only way they could win was if captain McGenity could see the innings through. Batting well, he ensured that they were always up with the rate and as Jordan and Frost returned to complete their spells, wickets began to fall but runs kept coming to keep the game on edge. A tight end was in sight and Birkenhead needing 43 off 10, then 20 off the last 5 with 3 wickets in hand, made Birkenhead firm favourites. The game then turned on a run out and as Newhouse was left stranded the crowd in the dell went delirious shouting ‘Kiss the badge’ striking a chord with the players with belief starting to run through both players and supporters alike. The last over saw Birkenhead needing to hit 7 runs from a nervous Phil Frost with the Sutton bowler needing to secure just 1 wicket. A Birkenhead four through mid-wicket appeared to signal the intent of the home side, but then a fatal error. In taking a quick single the last Birkenhead man was exposed and Frost could smell blood. Crosby was setting himself up to become a hero, but Frost had other ideas bowling a gun barrel straight delivery that would have shattered the stumps had the batsman not moved across to block with the pad. Crowd and players rose as one, begging the umpire to adjudicate and he obliged with a slow raise of the finger that cued a euphoric pitch invasion that could only mean that Sutton CC were the Kaufman Cup champions for 2007 winning by an incredible 1 run.
