SUPER seamers Nick Scaling and Mike Sinclair sped Sheriff Hutton Bridge to Lord's in devastating fashion.
They shared nine wickets as the Hunters the estate agent York and District League side thrashed hosts Astwood Bank by nine wickets yesterday.
After years of near misses Bridge will now step out at cricket headquarters on Bank Holiday Sunday to face Shipton Under Wychwood for the greatest prize in village cricket.
Lord's is certainly a far cry from Bridge's modest surroundings at Moor Farm, just north of Strensall, their home since they were formed in 1949.
Club president Roy Piercy, a founder member of the club, was among the 50-strong band of supporters who made the 300-mile round trip to Worcestershire to witness yesterday's memorable triumph.
Ecstatic club secretary Colin Mole said: "Our bowling and fielding was excellent. The boys were really up for it. I am thrilled to bits for them."
Bridge shot out their hosts for 73 and had no difficulty knocking them off - the victory coming just 12 months after they lost last year's semi-final in the final over to Cotswold League side Exhall and Wixford.
Bridge skipper Paul Scaling won the toss and put the hosts in on a slow, slow wicket - a decision which reaped dividends in spectacular style.
While Dave Houldridge kept it tight at one end his new ball partner Nick Scaling - Paul's brother - was proving too hot to handle at the other.
He ripped out three of the top order to leave the Worcestershire County League division one side floundering.
Houldridge also got in on the act with a wicket but there was no respite for Bank when Scaling was rested.
Mike Sinclair, a helicopter pilot, stepped into the attack and whisked four more Bank batsmen away as he took 4-14 in his nine-over spell.
Survival was the name of the game but they found scoring equally difficult off spinner Danny Foxton and right-armer Scaling returned to mop up the tail and finish with figures of 5-24 as Astwood Bank were shot out for a mere 73 in the 34th over.
It was a paltry target that Bridge openers Sinclair and Paul Oldfield (pictured above) quickly eased past.
They put on 57 before Oldfield, who had been the dominant partner, sent a return catch to bowler P Boycott.
But Bridge kept their heads and Steve Crowder helped Sinclair ease Bridge over the finishing line in the 25th over.
SCOREBOARD
National Village Trophy
Semi-final
Astwood Bank v Sheriff Hutton Bridge
Sheriff Hutton Bridge won toss
Astwood Bank
A Clayton c Fisher b N Scaling 3
D Evans c S Crowder b N Scaling 4
S Churchley b Houldridge 2
A Robinbson b N Scaling 19
S Clarke c P Crowder b M Sinclair 7
P Boycott c S Crowder b M Sinclair 4
A Alexander lbw b M Sinclair 1
P Alexander c S Crowder b M Sinclair 0
J Summers b N Scaling 2
B Freeman b N Scaling 5
I Bowes not out 0
Extras b1 lb3 nb8 w12 24
Total (33.4 overs) 73
Fall: 1-7 2-11 3-12 4-37 5-47 6-50 7-53 8-57 9-62.
Bowling: D Houldridge 9-3-14-1, N Scaling 8.4-0-24-5, M Sinclair 9-2-14-4, D Foxton 8-2-18-0.
Sheriff Hutton Bridge
P Oldfield c and b Boycott 36
M Sinclair not out 23
S Crowder not out 7
Extras b1 lb1 nb4 w2 8
Total (24.1overs for 1 wkt) 74
Fall: 1-57
Bowling: D Freeman 5-0-19-0, I Bowes 5-3-5-0, P Boycott 8.1-1-24-1, J Summers 8-1-24-0.
Sheriff Hutton Bridge won by nine wickets.
Updated: 11:12 Monday, August 15, 2005
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