Hussainia in a hurry to keep hold of cup

The cup holders laid the foundations for victory with some impressive top-order batting, with Saeed Hashmi leading the way with 32 runs.

Taverners did get an early breakthrough, when they dismissed opener Najam Shah for 11, but Azam, Hashmi and Gulfam were not for budging as Hussainia began to pile on the runs.

Opener Azam made a telling contribution with 22, as did Gulfam who scored 27 as the pair played fine supporting roles to leading run-maker Hashmi.

There were also impressive cameo roles from Nasir Mahmood and Asim as Taverners' bowlers struggled to make a breakthrough.

Mahmood scored 16 and Asim weighed in with a tidy 13 before tail-enders Irfan, Arshad, Karrar and Ejaz added a further 14 runs, with Karrar unbeaten on seven as Hussainia finished on 162 for nine.

Khan was the pick of the Taverners bowlers, claiming two wickets, while there was a wicket each for Fazal, N Fazal, S Khan and Hussain.

Taverners needed a steady start to stand any chance of reaching their target but it didn't happen as David Reed and Mick Cox both surrended their wickets cheaply, both going for just four runs.

Hussain and Nawaz did give the Accrington side a glimmer of hope with an impressive third wicket stand before Nawaz was brilliantly caught by young Karrar. Nawaz scored 20 with Hussain top-scoring with 24.

However, once the partnership was split up, Taverners lost wickets at an alarming rate with the remaining seven wickets falling for just 21 runs.

Mark Swift scored four runs while David Swift went for a duck. Khan faired little better, scoring just one, as did S Afzal, while N Afzal and Anthony Cox scored six each as Taverners fell 55 runs short of the Hussainia total.

Hussainia skipper, Ejaz Hussain, said he was delighted to see his side retain the trophy.

He said: "It was great to be able to successfully defend the trophy. It was an excellent game and I think the best team won on the day."