It always feels bad when you lose a cup final and to lose it in the last over with two needed to win, makes it even harder, writes Ashley Tiffen.
While the victors celebrate wildly, the losers can only look into the abyss of despair.
Both Cockermouth and Millom came into this match, played at neutral Whitehaven, on the back of wins on Saturday and with a record of one apiece in their two previous encounters this was destined to be a close-fought and, at times, controversial match, which thrilled the mix of partisan supporters and cricketing neutrals alike.
Cockermouth were without skipper Sempill, away on county duty, so it fell to Alex Grainger to lose the toss and be put into bat, something it is likely he would have done had the coin fallen in his favour.
Before many had taken their seats, Millom were rewarded when the recently in-form Reegan Scott fell in the first over, caught by the opposing skipper, Graham Dawson off the bowling of the inform Paul O’Callaghan, without scoring and with only a no ball on the total.
He was followed back to the pavilion by skipper Grainger in the second over caught behind by Nathan Waterson for a solitary 4 boundary.
This brought together, the evergreen Gareth White and professional Shrikant Mundhe, playing his last game for Cockermouth before his imminent return to India, hoping to leave a reward for his club.
But apart from a sizzling six over midwicket, the professional played second fiddle to White who rattled some fine boundaries as he settled in.
Having passed the 50 partnership, it was skipper Dawson who was remove Mundhe when he played a poor shot skying the ball to mid off and a regulation catch for Callum High with score on 59 and, 12 balls later and no runs added, Greg Platten was to become Dawson’s second wicket bowled for a duck.
With 21 further runs added, Tom Norman was to be Dawson’s third scalp for 17 with Cockermouth teetering on 80 for 5 with still 15 overs remaining in the innings.
By now White was settled and he found a willing partner in Chadd Pearson and between them they added 48 before Pearson fell bowled by Zac Mawdsley for 19.
It was left to White to keep the scoreboard moving losing 3 further wickets to leave Cockermouth on 154 for 8 after their 45 overs.
For Millom, skipper Graham Dawson bowled well taking 3 wickets for 18 in 6 overs, while Zac Mawdsley took 2 for a relatively expensive 43 in his 9 overs.
Tea was taken with the match finely balanced. It was suggested by some that the target of 155 was eminently gettable while others felt it was a target that was defensible. It was the finest of fine margins that, in the end, held the key.
Millom started slowly and Shrikant Mundhe thought he had made a telling breakthrough in his first over when he demolished opener Joshua Mackie’s stumps only to look back and see the umpire signalling No ball. To add some insult to this, Mackie smashed the professional for a well timed 4 the very next ball.
However, Mackie’s innings was short lived with Mundhe again demolishing his stumps with this time, no intervention by the officials and the opener left with only his solitary 4 to his name and 16 runs on the board.
It was clear, at this point, that Millom professional Nathan Waterson was to be key to their response with the aided spice that he had fallen for a first ball duck to Mundhe just two weeks previously.
This was to be the case as he defended well, forged singles into spaces and hit the occasional poor ball to the boundary.
Lachlan Wilson was to be Mundhe’s second victim as he too was bowled with 38 on the board and while Declan Tyson was able to stay with Waterson, it was the latter who was to fall next having scored 55 from the 78 runs on the board bowled by skipper Grainger. From their reaction, this was the wicket Cockermouth wanted and the one that put them in the driving seat.
But Millom were to dig in with Tyson making 21 before being bowled by the inform Ethan Hardie-Knight and Callum High making 9 before he was sharply caught behind by Chadd Pearson off the skipper’s bowling.
10 more from Zac Mawdsley before he departed bowled by opening bowler Joshua Brown as he returned for a second spell which left Millom needing 22 runs with 2 wickets and just over 9 overs remaining.
But Braith Connor and Paul O’Callaghan clearly hadn’t read the script with the former making 8 before being bowled by part-time bowler Gareth White with 5 runs needed and the final pair at the crease.
There was time for further controversy to stir the crowd with a vehement appeal by Cockermouth for a caught behind which was turned down by the umpire, leaving the game poised with one over remaining, 2 runs needed for a Millom Victory and I wicket for Cockermouth to be victorious.
While Paul O’Callaghan had pushed to side to the brink of victory with 13, including 2 sparkling 4s, it was number 11, Robbie Wilson who was to face Joshua Brown. He defended balls 1 and 2 but sent the third ball into the hands of Shrikant Mundhe to take the final wicket.
Ethan Hardie Knight ended with bowling figures of 3 for 27 in 9 overs with 2 wickets apiece for Brown, Grainer and Mundhe.
At the award presentation, Cumbria Cricket League Chairman, Steve Chambers said this had been the closest final for many years and he praised both teams for making it a game you could not take your eyes off and one that will be remembered by all that were there.
He also rightly thanked Whitehaven Cricket Club for being the consummate hosts for their hospitality, refreshments and the excellent turnout of the ground and made a presentation of commemorative medals to the umpires and the respective scorers.
But it was to be skipper Alex Grainger that was to receive the Higson Cup for 2025 although praise must go to every player from both sides for making the day so memorable.
Whitehaven skipper Leo Sanczuk named Gareth White to be player of the match.
