Skipper Evans so proud after leading first XI to memorable promotion

WIDNES captain Tom Evans wants his club to progress even further after securing promotion from the Cheshire County Cricket League First Division.

Evans’s side lost just one of their final 12 fixtures to edge out third-place Upton by three points and secure their progression back to the Premier League with a final-day victory over relegated Barrow.

It will be the first time Widnes have competed in the higher division since relegation in 2009 and Evans – who only returned as captain at the beginning of the season – reflected on his emotions after the victory.

“Happy, relieved, proud,” he said.

“My Dad used to be captain of the club so that’s a nice touch too. Everyone is really happy for us and the club is back to where we should be even though we haven’t been there for a while.”

Widnes recorded maximum points last month to propel their title charge after a draw against Upton in July.

Evans and wicketkeeper Chris Kirby fended off a combined 131 balls – for less than 30 runs – to salvage a share of the spoils from the clash and the captain pinpointed that game as the turning point.

“August was a massive month for us – we took 100 points from four games and it propelled us above Upton.

“We managed to hold them off until the end and we were chatting about how the draw we did have against them – when we were nine down and didn’t lose the game – got us over the line.”

After initially targeting promotion at the beginning of the season, Widnes lost three of their opening four matches.

From there, however, they lost just two more games all year – and the captain insists it was always just a matter of time before his talented young side began to gel.

“I think at the start of the season we were caught cold,” he added.

“As we said at the start of the year, it was the first time some lads had played in the first team and others weren’t sure of their role. After a while, everyone got used to job roles, we spent a lot of time training together, bonding together, getting to know each other and built a team spirit. That all added up together to an amazing team spirit on and off the field and that gets you over the line in games which, in previous seasons, you’d have got beat.”