IN the last One Day Trophy Final in 2019 Berkshire had beaten Cumberland by only one run, however this year Cumbria CCC were overpowered by the same opposition.

The match was held at the magnificent cricket ground on the private Wormsley Estate near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

The pitch was commissioned in 1992 by the then estate owner Sir Paul Getty in homage to the Oval. Echoing the 2019 Final Cumbria CCC won the toss and elected to bowl, but unfortunately that’s where the similarity ended.

HIT: McGown boundary shot

HIT: McGown boundary shot

In 2019 Cumbria bowled out Berkshire for 144 in 46.4 overs. However this year, on a drop-in wicket, Berkshire scored 260 for eight in their 50 overs. James McGown was the most successful bowler with figures of four wickets for 50 runs in his 10 overs. Hampered by injury Paul Hindmarch took two wickets for 48 runs in his six overs. Slack and Sharp took one wicket each. Catches were taken by Slack (two), Dutton and Watt.

In reply Cumbria lost two wickets in the first seven balls and were reduced to 31-6 in the 12th over. Most Cumbrian batsmen struggled with only three reaching double figures: Captain Pratt (10), Sempill (39) and number ten bat McGown (26 not out).

SPORT: Keswick contingent on McGowns Mound

SPORT: Keswick contingent on McGown's Mound

McGown’s strong performances with ball and bat drew particularly animated support from a coach load of Keswickians who took their place on ‘McGown’s Mound’! Cumbria truly were David to Berkshire’s Goliath. While Cumberland haven’t lifted the then Unicorns Trophy since 2012, Berkshire have won eight pieces of silverware in the last five seasons and have won at least one competition each season since 2016.

BATSMAN: Sempill steers the ball

BATSMAN: Sempill steers the ball

All of the Berkshire team have played first class cricket, including three who played in the 2021 season.

Their experiences range from MCC University teams (Loughborough, Oxford), through first class county First or Second XIs (Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey) to England U19s. So Cumbria, fielding eight players with no first class experience, did us all proud.