Notts & Derbys Border Youth League
Under 13s Champion of Champions

Marehay (83 for 9) lost to Belper Meadows (84 for 7) by 3 wickets

The final match of the season proved to be the most exciting, with Belper prevailing over rivals Marehay in the last over of the game.

Belper won the toss and put Marehay into bat on a damp and slow track. Rob Borland quickly made inroads getting both openers out in a spell of 2 for 3 off his 3 overs. Marehay, however came back strongly through Kyte (15) and Wilson (26 retired), so that at halfway Marehay were 54 for 2. At this point Paul Taylor got the vital wicket of Kyte to a good catch from Jamie Sykes and the retirement of Wilson quickly followed. Belper were now back on top and wickets began to tumble. Nash snared Parkinson thanks to a neat stumping from Mart and Maleham and Severn cleared up the tail, finishing with 1 for 6 and 2 for 8 respectively. Marehay ran well between the wicket and ended up with 83 runs, which was competitive for the track, but far above what they should have got due to the 26 extras gifted to them by Belper.

The Belper reply was soon in trouble with Harrop-Griffiths and Maleham for once failing. Borland and Severn brought some respectability to the total, but when Borland went for 5, Belper were 25 for 3 off 8 overs and the big guns were all in the shed!

Two overs later Severn (15) was out, quickly followed by Halliday leaving Mart and Nash at the crease. These two batted and ran superbly, measuring their innings against the run rate and putting pressure on the Marehay fielders. They put on 40 runs with Mart being unluckily run out for 23 taking a 5th run and Nash also run out for 8 when seeking an improbable second run.

Three overs to go, 16 runs required and the brothers Joe and Bryn Carnelly at the crease. Again they took the game to Marehay, pressurising the fielders with some daring running and Joe hitting a memorable boundary.

With 6 balls remaining Belper needed 6 runs with Bryn Carnelly, at 11 years the youngest and smallest player on the field, facing the bowling

The first ball of Boyce's over was hit for 2, the next a dot, but the third was pulled firmly through the onside for a magnificent boundary, which prompted a huge roar and the invasion of the pitch by all the Belper players.

Belper had secured the League, the Cup and the Champion of Champions Trophy, a superb treble for a class team. But don't forget Marehay, who were worthy competitors throughout and could so easily have won this game with their strong bowling attack of Gardener (2 for 9), Patrick (1 for 10), Bradder (1 for 2) and Kyte (1 for 12).

In the end, it was the depth of the Belper batting and the mature way that they approached their target that won the day. A great day's cricket and a wonderful advertisement for youth cricket.