1st XI v BISC (home) Saturday saw the return of the William Andrews trophy to Chambers Park for the seventh time in Portadown CC's history as they won the winner-takes-all, title deciding match against rivals Belfast International Sports Club (BISC).
Both teams had only lost one game each all season, and with promotion already guaranteed knew that the winner would end the season as league champions.
Portadown were without Ally Harland and David Whitfield for the big game, but welcomed back John Hewitt and included Zaheer Ali for his second first team appearance.
With overcast conditions, and a heavy shower minutes before the match, both teams were keen to bowl first, and when BISC captain Vinoth won the toss, that was what he chose to do.
The biggest crowd of the season had turned out at the boundary, and there were plenty of nerves as the BISC bowlers produced a tidy opening spell to restrict openers Paul Edgar and John Haddock to only 16 runs from the first 8 overs.
They soon began to find form though, and plundered 20 off the next 4 overs, including a massive Haddock six.
However, he added only one more run before being run out for 14.
BISC compounded the hosts misery as Edgar was out in the next over, clean bowled by Raj for a well played 19, with the scoreboard reading 37 for 2.
That left the town with two fresh batsmen at the crease, Ross Whitfield and Gary Murphy.
Both were unfased by the situation and began to play in their customary styles, Whitfield solid and defensively sound, and Murphy attacking the bowlers, and both players impressing with their running between the wicket.
They managed to add another 36 together before Ross was run out on 7.
That brought the in-form James Edgar to the middle and he wasted no time adding some quick runs and bringing the score towards 100.
However, when he was well caught at point for 16 and Murphy (30) edged behind to the wicketkeeper in the next over, the town was in trouble at 99 for 5.
Again two quick wickets falling in succession led to another set of fresh batsmen at the crease.
John Hewitt hadn't played since the last time the sides met, in June, but the lack of match practice didn't show as he batted calmly and timed the ball well from the off.
Roshan Jose was his partner and he didn't look in great form until he launched one of his trademark sixes to set in motion what would be the innings of the day.
Hewitt was compiling quickly and steadily through a succession of well placed ones and twos, while the contrasting Jose continued to deal in boundaries.
They added a vital 55 to bring the score to 153 before Hewitt was caught behind for 33 (one 4, two 6s).
Zaheer Ali was up next at number eight but added only two before being caught with the score 167 for 7 after 41 overs.
Although Jose was still in, there were only 9 remaining overs to try and get near the 200 total that Portadown captain Hammond thought was needed.
It was he who was next to bat, and with Jose, sought to up the run rate.
A rain interruption led to an early, and nervous tea, before the batsmen went back out for the remaining 6 overs.
Roshan soon reached his 50, and when Hammond was out for 19, the pair had added 53 runs in less than 7 overs - a combination of aggressive running between the wicket and powerful hitting bringing the score to 217.
Roshan left soon after without adding to his total, but Jeff Haire and Stephen Hawthorne combined to end the give the team a final total of 230 for 9 wickets after the 50 overs.
A score that was probably better than par for the pitch, a result of contributions from all the batsmen.
As tea had already been taken there was a quick turnaround before the visitors had to face the Portadown opening bowlers Murphy and Haire.
The hosts were still in confident mood following their batting performance, but after star batsman Prasanna Nagineni had smashed 14 off the first over, Hammond wondered whether 230 was enough.
He needed have worried though as Haire got back on track and dismissed the same batsman four balls into his second over, courtesy of a reaction catch by Hawthorne at first slip.
The team were cock-a-hoop, knowing the importance of the breakthrough, and it wasn't long until Murphy had his first victim, the other opener, caught by a watchful Hewitt at point.
The team were buzzing, and roared on by the home support, the bowlers began to put the BISC batsman under real pressure.
Haire had his second of the day in the next over, producing a brilliant ball to trap captain Vinoth leg before wicket, leaving the score on 32-3.
The visitors were in real trouble, and some excellent fielding was preventing any easy runs and forcing the batsman to play over-aggressive shots.
Each ball looked like it could take a wicket, and Murphy had another in the 8th over, removing Patra, courtesy of Jose's first catch of the season.
Another over and another wicket as Haire had his third thanks to another catch from Hewitt, this time a spectacular effort diving to his right.
The visitors were in disarray as Portadown sensed victory with the score 41-5, and it wasn't long til the situation got worse for them when Haire picked up his fourth, and 27th of the season, in his next over.
Narayanan and Rao began to consolidate their position and batted sensibly, but the Haire and Murphy were on fire, and the fielding was tight and aggressive.
Haire conceded only 9 runs from his last 5 overs to leave him with figures of 4-40, but Murphy was not to be outdone and trapped two batsmen leg before with his last two balls giving him figures of 4-16, and leaving him on a hat-trick on his first ball of next season.
The two bowlers had demolished what has been a highly successful top order batting lineup to leave BISC 59-8 from 20 overs and surely handing the title to Portadown.
There was still work to be done however, and Jose was introduced to the attack with the intention of wrapping up the innings quickly.
With his usual aggressive bowling he soon grabbed a wicket, leaving him to fight it out with Hammond for the prize of the last one.
Hammond's spell was unsuccessful, as he was targeted by tailender Panja, and it was left to James Edgar to wrap up the innings, and the league title, catching Panja off his own bowling to leave BISC all out for 101, and giving Portadown a huge victory by 129 runs.
A fantastic bowling performance by the town, and in particular Haire and Murphy, which skittled out a very strong batting lineup for a low total.
Hammond was especially pleased with the overall team effort, with everyone making contributions with the bat, and probably the best fielding performance of the season.
All that was left was for Hammond to collect the trophy, which was presented by former town captain, and current NCU official, Neale Matthews.
A word of thanks for the great turn-out of support, who stayed to the end in what were sometimes miserable weather conditions.
A special mention also to the small band of people who have come out every week to watch no matter what the weather - Shirley, Emily, Mike, Aaron, Stanley, Alan, John, Harrison, Noel, Brian and Arun. Your support is much appreciated.
