T20 trophy is heading North
A SEVEN-WICKET win over Wimbledon CC secured the 2017 NatWest Club T20 title for South Northumberland.
The new Dukes NEPL Premier Division champions took the honours at the County Ground in Derby to complete a season’s trophy double.
The Tynesiders were the first national T20 champions when the competition was launched in 2008 and overcame 2012 and 2013 winners Wimbledon to claim the prestigious silverware.
Simon Birtwisle was the man of the match, taking 3-23 with his leftarm spin and then top-scoring with 47 as the Gosforth side added the T20 title to the longer-form Royal London National Club Championship they claimed last September.
Wimbledon had won the toss but struggled to 117 all out, Jonny Wightman claiming 3-18 and former Australia international Marcus North 2-20.
When North batted, he fell for 16 in the sixth over of the Bulls’ reply.
However, Birtwisle kept them on course and wicketkeeper Rob Peyton steered them home with an unbeaten 37.
It was captain Adam Cragg who applied a spectacular finish, hitting the second ball of the last over for six.
South Northumberland had earlier beaten the Cannock and Rugeley Hawks in the day’s first semifinal - John Graham’s unbeaten 56 proving to be the match-winning innings.
Speaking after the final, Birtwisle said: “I reached these finals three times with Chester-le-Street without winning so it is very sweet to win it now.
“North East cricket is very strong. We have good sides who generally do well in these competitions.
“I was in the Durham Academy – the same year as Michael Gough who is now an umpire and also with John and I played secondteam cricket.
“John played brilliantly in our semi-final victory and character wins these games.”