Lowe hits end of season high

North Yorkshire and South Durham recorded a six-wicket victory

The Darlington Building Society North Yorkshire and South Durham League representative side swept to glory in the League Cricket Conference’s prestigious Presidents Trophy.

Having brushed aside Cheshire Premier in the quarter final and then Liverpool Premier in the semi final by eight wickets, North Yorkshire and South Durham League became the first non-ECB Premier League representative side to reach the final since 2000.

North Yorkshire and South Durham League completed the job at Caythorpe against the Nottinghamshire Premier outfit to pick up a trophy they made their own in the '80s and '90s when they won seven times in succession.

Having won an important toss the North Yorkshire and South Durham League exploited the conditions to good effect.

Jon Barnes was his usual miserly self and when he bowled key man Darren Bicknell the home side never really recovered. From a position of 80 for three at the 25 over drinks break, Notts limped to 152 for nine at the close with Paul Goodchild grabbing five wickets and also clinging on to a superb outfield catch.

North Yorkshire and South Durham League skipper James Lowe then played superbly to anchor the run chase, the only real wobble coming when the fourth wicket fell with 43 still needed and time running out.

But Darren Hickey marched in to smack three sixes and as many fours to rush the North Yorkshire and South Durham League to victory with six wickets and five overs to spare.

Hickey was undefeated on 34, made from just 18 balls, and Lowe was deservedly at the crease when victory arrived with 63 to his name.

With the North Yorkshire and South Durham League under-21 side having become champions of Yorkshire just two weeks earlier after defeating the Bradford League in the White Rose final, the league have now won two national and three county titles in just three seasons.

But this latest success is the pinnacle of league representative cricket.