Hammad Ahmad follows in footsteps of Pete Grady (1998) and Stan Singleton (2003)
J.Heath 58/ T.Kapote 6-2-8-2 S.Kildunne 26 / B.Oldham 6-0-36-3
North Leeds and Olicianians clashed horns for the second time in two days at the beautiful Saltaire Cricket Club, located in Roberts Park, Bradford. Skipper H.Ahmad won the toss as the Olicanians skipper C.Pilling called incorrectly, without any hesitation he elected to bat first. John was underway to put himself and Leeds off the mark with a drive over extra cover in the third over, it was followed up with a sweep two bounce into the River Aire, new ball please. Tom joined in the action with two flick strokes which raced up the embankment for four. The opening stand was worth 41 after 8, good start. In the 9th over S.Kildunne got Olicanians the breakthrough, Tom adjudged lbw for 16 with 4 fours.

T.Kapote was next in at three, he like Tom and John got off the mark with a boundary. The pair both rotated strike well while driving and cutting anything loose to the rope. The score was a solid 77-1 after 15.It was important to try and get to the halfway stage without losing another wicket. They did exactly that as the next 5 overs produced 36 and the pair brought up the 50 partnership in the process. John ticked over for yet another 50 this season with a flick through midwicket for a single, Tij was now very well composed at the wicket and set to go big.113-1 after 20 overs with 220 plus very much on the cards. Unfortunately John was out for 58 shortly after off the bowling of the Olicanians skipper C.Pilling. His sweep stroke picked out D.Oldham who came in a few yards off the square leg fence in front of the River to complete a safe catch. J.Mason in at four for Leeds, he didn’t take long to get going as he swept a number of deliveries to the square leg rope. Tij then reached a brilliant 50 with a drive back over the bowlers head for four, 141-1 after 25 and Leeds certainly on the charge.

Many people know that cricket is a funny game and things can change quickly, so it proved to be, like at Rawdon earlier on in the season, though thankfully not with the same destructive force. Tij gave his wicket away with one charge too many, in an attempt to go over the top of midwicket, he flicked it to D.Oldham who took the catch above his head to give J.Cottle his first for the day. A delightful 54 with 8 fours scored never the less. J.Taylor joined Jack at the wicket as the former launched the first maximum of the innings to give the ball a good soaking, the full toss pulled high and handsome. B.Oldham the veteran had his revenge though four balls later, Jack on 26 coming down the track and yorking himself to see the ball hit leg pole.

Things got ever better for Olicanians in his next over as Jonny was deemed Leg before wicket for 3.The batsmen clearly not happy with suspicions of an inside edge.162-5 with D.Ralphs and C.Sutton now at the wicket. Charlie struck a four to get off the mark, waiting
patiently for the right delivery before slamming it with distain to the fence. Duncan also struck a sweet cover drive to get underway as Olicanians had begun to assert some pressure. D.Oldham stuck to his bowling length, you miss I hit, it was to be the undoing of the Leeds Vice-Captain. Duncan charged looking to stroke it down the ground, the ball clipped off to see him dismissed for 7.

178-6 and in came the Skipper H.Ahmad. He scored 3 before E.McLelland snuck him off caught behind by M.Brear. A slightly loose stroke outside of the off stump meant Leeds had now lost 5 wickets for 32 runs in 8 overs, now in danger of being bowled out.183-7 and U.Mir arrived at the wicket with 4 overs of the innings remaining. Charlie was on 9* as Leeds looked to push to 200.Charlie had things thought-out with a clear game plan, it was the green light go time, his type of cricket. He started the counterattack as he launched a straight drive to the rope over the top; he then followed it up with a pull out to cow corner, 11 taken off the 37th and the score now 194-7.

Umar then flicked one over midwicket as the score went past 200 after the 38th.Charlie was nowhere done at this point as he racked up 12 off the 39th which included a rocket like six over cow corner towards the changing rooms. Both U.Mir and A.Ralphs were run-out in a sacrifice to get Charlie back on strike, Umar and Charlie’s fine partnership of 34 had come to an end. E.McLelland bowled a solid final over and had Charlie caught behind on the final ball of the innings for a game changing onslaught of 40 with 5 fours and 1 six. Double nelson is what Leeds finished on, for those that don’t know what that is, it’s 222.
T.Kapote and J.Taylor opening the bowling for Leeds, Olicanians started patiently as both produced tight bowling. T.Starkey struck a nice cut stroke as the score moved to 13-0 after 5.He then played a solid drive down the ground; Jonny got his revenge two balls later thanks to a stupendous catch by J.Heath at point. His delivery was slightly short and the batsmen flashed hard, John dived full stretch two handed to his left to pull off the stunner, a shame it was not caught on camera. T.Starkey dismissed for 8, 17-1.Tij fired up then produced a nip-backer first ball of the next over to go in-between the Olicanian skipper’s bat and pad and knock back middle, C.Pilling out for 3, two in two for Leeds. S.Pilling and T.Oldham were now at the crease together. They both built steadily as S.Pilling struck a pull stroke to the rope in their 20 run partnership off 5 overs. Tij then got his second in the final over of his spell as he had T.Oldham leg before wicket for 3, 37-3 now and Leeds in the box seat.

E.McLelland was in at 5, things were kept quiet as both batsmen pushed the score on to 53 after 14 overs. T.Alldred now into the attack from the bridge end clean bowled S.Pilling in his second over for 16. 56-4 but sadly Tom had pulled a muscle in the process and was unable to continue bowling.

Things got even better for Leeds when J.Taylor had a change of ends; C.Sutton hit the stumps direct from midwicket to see E.McLelland on 9 fractionally short. Z.Khan and A.Ralphs were introduced in the few overs before the halfway stage; meanwhile D.Martill
and B.Oldham were at the crease for Olicanians. D.Martill struck one through point to the rope to get himself in, 69-4 after 20.Ten runs were scored off the next four overs before Archie snuck one through the defences of D.Martill for 19 which included 3 fours. The skipper then picked up his first for the day as the Keeper M.Brear was removed for 1, a big stroke down the ground attempted saw the ball go in-between mid-off and mid-on, Tom covered ground and held the skier well. Hammad then pocketed a second a short while later to remove L.Anderson for 4, Jonny well placed on the point boundary, the delivery was a touch wide as the batsmen slashed hard, Jonny running forward off the rope completed a solid catch.

93-8 as S.Kildunne made his way to the middle, together along with B.Oldham they formed a partnership to try and get as close as possible to the score, S.Kildunne struck some hefty fours down the ground in the process. The partnership was soon worth 26 and was now Olicanians highest partnership of the innings. Hammad then got B.Oldham out for a plucky 16 as he went for a big stroke over midwicket, hit straight to Tij to bag him his third.119-9 with a few overs left. The score reached 140 before the Skipper got his 4th to wrap the game up; S.Kildunne was bowled after the ball flicked his pad and went onto leg stump to end a well fought 26 with 4 fours.
Leeds took victory by 83 runs to seal the Chappell Cup for the first time in 16 years. A fitting way to win the cup as everyone contributed with bat or ball.
Tij Kapote deservedly took the Man of the Match award for 54 and 6 overs-2 maidens-8 runs-2 wickets.