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Walkden crowned KO kings

29/ 8/2002

Thwaites Lancashire KO Cup Final: Walkden 184 all out, Kearsley 140 all out (at Old Trafford)

WALKDEN'S achievement in winning the Thwaites Lancashire KO Cup at Old Trafford on Sunday and becoming the top club side in all leagues covered by the Lancashire Cricket Board will go down as the club's finest hour.

Success over Kearsley, near neighbours and rivals in the Warburtons Bolton League, completed a memorable moment in Walkden's 103-year history as they are in possession of all the prizes it is possible for them to win, including the league title trophy they still hold as reigning champions.

Sunday's result brought a tear to the eyes of many a "Hill Top Ender", the colloquial term given to the band of supporters who have for decades watched Walkden from the Hill Top End off their Harriet Street ground.

This year's showpiece, the first time two clubs from the same league have met in the final, will be remembered largely for the unbeaten century by Walkden captain Mike Bennison, who carried his bat from the third over, finishing with 100 not out in an all-out 184. Winning the toss for only the second time this season, Bennison opted to bat. South African pro Doug Watson opened the innings with Dave Smith facing the bowling of Pakistan fast bowler Fazil Akber.

Although Smith lost his wicket in the third over, to a delightful ball from veteran Mel Whittle, Bennison and Watson took the score to 70 before Watson went lbw to Akber, who went on to take 4-37. After spending almost all the match out on the field Bennison admitted to be "very tired, but it was more a mental tiredness through intense concentration".

Other Walkden batsmen went cheaply but were able to stay with their skipper.

Kearsley got off to a bad start, losing three of their allotted 45 overs for taking too long to bowl. The opening partnership of Davies and Thornley did not last long before Bernard Reidy took a low slip catch off Phil Ingram's bowling to dismiss Thornley.

It was a great return to Old Trafford for former Lancashire star Bernard Reidy, whose bowling partnership with off-spinner Matt Parkinson paved the way for a famous victory.

Parkinson's 5-28 in nine overs would have earned the Man of the Match accolade on many other occasions.

Bennison's unbeaten century prompted LCB secretary Andy Hayhurst to tell the 500-plus crowd that Mike played the much-cliched captain's innings and richly deserved the award.

And the most memorable sight of the day and definitely the most sporting was the way Kearsley players followed skipper Simon Thomson and pro Fazil Akber in congratulating Bennison at the crease when he reached his century.

• Saturday's league match at Little Lever will be popular Doug Watson's last game before he returns to Durban to open for Kwazulu Natal. Everyone at Walkden hopes to see him back next season.