Captain Chris makes the final breakthrough

Old Parkonians skipper Chris Beckett, a senior clinical coding clerk with the NHS, injected some drama into a win at Prestbury which took the Wirral club into the final of the Cheshire League 1st XI T20 Plate.

In a twice postponed semi-final, Prestbury made a calamitous start to chasing a victory target of 178 by losing three wickets within the first two overs.

Beckett, a slow left arm spinner, opened the bowling and took two of those wickets in the first over.

But after 14 overs Prestbury had recovered to the extent an amazing comeback seemed possible.

Then Beckett came back to bowl for his second spell, again he took two wickets in an over and the old boys of Birkenhead’s Park High School were always in charge after that.

Prestbury captain George Brindley won the toss and put the visitors in to bat.

The Old Parkonians openers Jonny Beaver and Jack Bates accepted the invitation in style by putting on 110 for the first wicket within 13 overs, Beaver scoring a half century.

From that platform, Old Parkonians went on to score 177-4 from their 20 overs.

It was a stark comparison when Prestbury batted. Beckett dismissed openers Sumon Ahmed and Tayef Ahmed in the first over, Ahmed departing to the first ball of a Prestbury innings which was to include two more golden ducks.

In the next over Prestbury lost another wicket and their cause seemed lost when all-rounder Will Worwsick, last season’s Player of the Year, came to the crease with the scoreboard showing three wickets down for five runs.

Showing maturity by keeping his nerve among the initial mayhem, Worswick, a student, patiently played himself in before stepping up the run rate and putting Prestbury in with an outside chance of making a remarkable recovery.

Just before Worswick departed for 65, the top score of the match, Prestbury had reached 110 for five with six overs to go, needing a further 68 runs to win.

Those prospects improved still further when Beckett came on for his second spell and Worswick hit him for six.

But with his next delivery, Beckett ended Worswick’s innings and Ben Wallace came in to fall to the first ball he faced from Beckett.

After that, apart from brief flurries, Prestbury’s resistance quickly evaporated. They were bowled out for 150 in 19 and a half overs with the OPs winning by 27 runs.

Beckett took four wickets for 30 runs from his allotted four overs, by far the best figures of the match.

He is hoping for a happy end to his ninth season as the Old Parkonians captain when his side play Bunbury in the final at Wirral CC on September 3.

Opposing captain Brindley inadvertently made life difficult for Beckett’s father Richie, the Old Parkonians chairman and president.

Brindley hit a straight six which soared to his left of the scorers’ hut where Richie was sitting doing the scoring in the open air, occasionally taking sips from an almost full plastic container containing his drink.

The ball smacked into the container spilling its contents. The OPs scorebook was soaked to the extent it became unusable and the Prestbury scorer, Bill Livesey was forced to score solo from then on.

Later, in the evening, Richie was able to report his scorebook had dried out and the scores copied in.

He added:

“This was a wonderful game of cricket played competitively and in the best spirit of the sport. While we are delighted to have reached the final, we wish to express our thanks for the wonderful hospitality offered to us on the day at the lovely Prestbury ground.”

Recent seasons have seen Old Parkonians progress from Division Three to Division One, a testament to the captaincy skills of Richie’s 34-year-old son.

Chris Beckett’s cricketing education benefited from time spent travelling and playing cricket in Australia.

He enjoyed a season at Parkdale CC in Melbourne as 21-year-old in a team which included Scott Boland, an Australian Test fast bowler who was to go on to become a Sheffield Shield Player of the Year.

Talking proudly about his son, Richie added: “Chris graduated through the Old Parkonians junior ranks and could undoubtedly have played at a higher level as his 74 league wickets for the club last season testify.”

Depending on how the rest of the summer plays out, it could be a question of we’ll meet again for the clubs next season . . . in Division Two.

The OPs are battling against relegation from Division One and Prestbury are second in Division Three.

Pictured - Old Parkonians skipper and spin wizard Chris Beckett (left) shares a post-match drink at The Village Ground with Prestbury captain George Brindley.