NEW LOOK 105-7 lost to MOBY DICK’S BEARS 106-7 by one run

VIJAY Mote overcame immense pressure to hit the crucial run, off the final ball of the game, that helped the Moby Dick’s Bears scoop this year’s Echo Cup.

In a grand showdown, this Twenty20 clash came down to the last delivery with Swift Signs Weymouth & District Evening League Division One leaders the Bears requiring just one run to capture what had earlier looked an unlikely win.

But Mote kept his nerve to notch the deciding run at Redlands.

Bears’ captain Cube Whyte was also at the crease as Mote clinched victory, and the duo’s partnership proved crucial.

A delighted Whyte said: “It was a great game. The pressure was more on us being the favourites and they seemed to play a bit more freely, believing that they had nothing to lose.

“After getting their big guns out early we probably thought job done, but instead it became interesting.

“One of our strengths was that we batted all the way down. We still had to get 11 off the last over and you wouldn’t want to be in that situation too often, especially facing a bowler of Andy Fulton’s calibre. But Vijay’s glance down to third man for the four certainly helped.

“I thought Bill Trevett was unlucky not be named man of the match but hats off to New Look as they played out of their skins. Hopefully we can go and do the double now.”

New Look chief Dave Mansbridge was disappointed to see his side’s first final appearance end in such an agonising way.

But the skipper remained gracious in defeat, saying: “We’re really proud of ourselves for making it such a really close game, and particular thanks go to Rich Cole for his man of the match performance with both bat and ball.

“But obviously congratulations go to the Bears for winning. To push them so close after we set a fairly low score was quite unusual and I’m sure they know they were in a game. Hopefully we can get to the final again and win it next time.”

The Bears won the toss and put their opponents into bat. New Look’s opening batsmen Faraz Ulhaq (17) and Kieron Womble (9) put 22 on the board before the latter was run out.

Ulhaq was then stopped in his tracks by Whyte (1-15) before Andy Fulton (20) and man of the match Rich Cole (23) pushed the tally beyond 50.

But Fulton became the first of Bill Trevett’s four victims, finding the hands of Whyte for a relatively simple catch, to end the budding partnership.

Mansbridge (16) put in a steady contribution but he, like Andy Laidlow (4) after him, was sent packing by the in-form Trevett (4-27).

A tremendously accurate throw and stumping had danger-man Cole run out with the score on 101 and soon after the New Look innings was brought to a close with four more runs added.

The Bears may have been touted as pre-match favourites, but an upset looked on the cards when the first two wickets – Will McKay (2) and Paul Payne (1) – were removed for just 16 runs.

Dean Janaway’s (13) dismissal, an excellent caught and bowled effort from Ulhaq (2-19), increased New Look’s chances and they remained somewhat in the driving seat when Jim Ryall (8) was sent packing with the Bears still to reach the half-century mark.

However, a fifth-wicket stand of 33 between Tom England (30) and Ben Doidge (15) saw the complexion of the game begin to shift.

Laidlow then caught Doidge before a superb diving catch at mid-wicket from Ulhaq put an end to England’s charge.

Trevett (3) came and went but the Bears were able to call upon Whyte and Mote to chase down the target in dramatic fashion.