U13s are Lancashire champions
The 2011 cricket season finally reached its conclusion with the two best teams in the county competing to be crowned champions of Lancashire. Bolton enjoyed a successful season and boast several Lancashire players but LRGS had beaten them earlier in the year and were buoyed by a long unbeaten run and a crushing semi-final win over Merchant Taylors'.
The toss was won by Bolton and they opted to bat first. County opener Brownlow (53) punished any wayward deliveries and benefitted from a difficult chance being spilled on the boundary by Karim. However, Thomas (6/18/2) began to make inroads into the Bolton top order and the dismissal of Brownlow, to a fine catch by Smith, led to an LRGS fight back. Pantelides (20) tried to maintain momentum but tight bowling from Bevan (6/16/1), Bashall (6-18/1) and Thompson (5/20/1) restricted Bolton to 141 for 6: a challenging 30 over total on a slow wicket but one that was within the capability of a strong Lancaster batting order.
LRGS made a circumspect start to the chase with Bevan and Robb seeking to capitalise on any loose balls and run sharp singles at every opportunity. Indeed, this would set the tone for the majority of the innings as the openers batted with excellent concentration and great skill to build what would ultimately prove to be a match winning opening partnership of 101. Robb (53) was stumped trying to accelerate the scoring but the platform for an all out assault had been laid. With 66 runs needed from the last 11 overs, Bevan (39 n.o.) intelligently rotated the strike to allow firstly Robb, and then the big hitting Alex Thomas, who was promoted up the order, to face the majority of balls. This tactic proved decisive as Thomas (45 n.o.) smashed the Bolton bowling to all parts. Such was the quality of his stroke play that the tension that had been building for some overs, with a nail-biting finish looming large, quickly evaporated and Thomas capped a man of the match performance by lifting a second straight six to win the match by 9 wickets with almost 3 overs to spare.
What proved to be a fantastically well judged run chase allowed LRGS captain Mark Bevan to lift the fine trophy and the team to earn the prestigious title of county champions for 2011. The final score was LRGS 142 for 1; Bolton 141 for 7.
