Great Match
24/04/2007Mytholmroyd v Zion - 1895 Hebden Bridge League Cup Final
Mytholmroyd Cricket Club has an illustrious past. And if there is one match in the club's entire history that continues to astonish cricket historians, then it is the crunch match fought between Mytholmroyd and Zion all the way back in 1895.
A club that was in its infancy, Royd achieved the almost impossible by reaching the league cup final for the second year running. But the events that were about to unfold were simply astonishing.
The final was held at the ground of Salem Cricket Club. Zion won the toss and decided to bat first. As the cup holders, Mytholmroyd were confident of victory and after dismissing the first batsman in the first over for just two runs the omens were good.
From here on in, the collapse of the Zion side continued. And before long Mytholmroyd had six wickets for just seven runs. Things didn't get any better for Zion - as in the next two overs they lost a further four wickets for no runs. Bowlers Heap and Colpan caused the damage.
With Zion 7 for 9, Mytholmroyd looked set to wrap the game up. With a swift wag of the tail, Zion increased their scoring efeforts, but were soon bowled out for a measly 16. Mytholmroyd seemed to have an easy task ahead of them to knock the runs off and were confident of a swift victory as they stepped up to the crease.
However, at the start the opening batsmen seemed slightly nervous. Perhaps they were not mentally prepared to be at the crease so early in the day and the first six overs were maidens. But in the seventh over opening batsman Jay Greenwood was bowled for a duck. His partner, S.Eastwood, scampered a two and Royd were off the mark.
However, it seems that Greenwood's wicket was the start of a procession not dissimilar to Zion's earlier in the day. The fall of wickets continued until Mytholmroyd found themselves on a not very promising 6 for 8. The final partnership of Butterworth and Houldsworth was promising - they made 3 each - and the Mytholmroyd faithful were once again hopeful of victory. But Houldsworth was eventually bowled - and the match was lost by four runs.
Many historians in the area suggest that this may be one of the lowest-scoring finals in local cricket history.
As the trophy was presented to Zion on that fateful day by the vice-president of the league, Reverend Harry Wild, he said to the crowd: ‘You have not seen much batting for your money, but you have had plenty of fun and plenty of excitement and witnessed some extremely good bowling'.