5 wicket win over Cambs at sun-drenched Didsbury

NCCA KO Trophy, Group 3: Cambridgeshire 300-9 (50), Cheshire 301-5 (46.5 overs). Cheshire won by 5 wickets  

Scorecard

Gallery

Live stream

Group 3 Table

Harry Dearden's Cheshire side put in a dazzling shift in the Didsbury sunshine to overcome Cambridgeshire in their third 50 over KO Trophy game.

A five wicket win leaves Cheshire in second place in Group 3 with one game to play - against Shropshire at Toft on June 25.

All five sides in the group have now lost one game and with two progressing to the KO stages, it's still all to play for. If Cheshire finish top of the group they'll face a home quarter final at Chester Boughton Hall on Sunday 2 July, Runners-up spot would clinch an away game. Anything less would see elimaination from a competition Cheshire last won back in 2018.

On a scorching day, the visitors won the toss and battted first, compiling 300-9 from 50 overs. A smart start was pegged back mid innings but 300 felt competitive on a flat Didsbury track in front of a good-sized crowd.

Chief architect in the Cambridgeshire innings was skipper and ex-Cheshire man, Wayne White who fearlessly bowled the last over for Cheshire when they won the trophy against Devon five years ago. Jack Williams was the only survivor from that game, this time round putting the brakes on a mid innings surge to take 2-41. White was in scintilating form however, demonstrating his full repertoire of shots which brought twelve 4s and one 6.

Steve Green enjoyed a return to the Cheshire side taking 4-59 on his home ground.

Cheshire's reply saw Sam Perry's classic style a perfect foil to Alderley Edge team mate Ben Kohler-Cadmore's agressive approach - the pair added 82 for the first wicket.

Perry made 63, Kohler-Cadmore 43 and the momentum continued with Henry Dobson (29) and Joe Cooke (19).

However, once the left-handed combo of Dearden and Alex Money came together, things really took off. The pair added 92 for the fifth wicket, Dearden back to his best with 46 and Alex Money's good form continuing with an unbeaten 64. The pair were outstanding to watch and there was just time for a Nick Anderson cameo as Cheshire got over the line by five wickets.