IT MAY have been unusual for the annual Craig Heaton Memorial Cricket Trophy to be played in glorious sunshine but there was nothing unfamiliar about the winning team.

The competition, contested by schools teams in Burnley, was won by Blessed Trinity – the 13th time they had got their hands on the trophy.

Incredibly, it was only the fourth time in the competitions 23 year history that the final was played during the summer school term where Lowerhouse Cricket Club was again the venue.

The competition included teams from Blessed Trinity R.C. College, Unity Community College, Shuttleworth College, Sir John Thursby Community College who played each other in a Round Robin format with the top two teams winning through to the final.

The talented Blessed Trinity team won all their games while Sir John Thursby finishing runners up. The final was played in glorious cricketing conditioning and the match was equal to the weather.

Blessed Trinity and Sir John Thursby played out a close and entertaining game, with good all round skills from both teams.

The match followed the Kwik Cricket teams consisted of eight players a side, starting with 200 runs and losing five for every wicket lost. Teams batted in pairs and faced four overs per pair.

Batting first, Sir John Thursby batted first and scored 221 and then tried enthusiastically to defend the score.

And they pushed Blessed Trinity to the limit who eventually scored 242 – but only only after the scores were tied going into the final over.

Organiser Derek Carter said: “Congratulations to both teams for producing an excellent final, played in a sporting and friendly spirit.

“Mr Heaton presented the trophy and medals to the winning side and thanks were expressed to all the teachers for their time and support to the competition and finally thanks to Lowerhouse CC for again allowing the use of their excellent facilities with special thanks to groundsman Peter Tighe.”

BLESSED TRINITY: Ben Woodall, Yanis Chir (captain), Max Ingham, Ishaac Ali, Mohammed Asim, Leighton Stott, Jack Worthington, Kasom Shah, Abou-Bkr Shaffi.

SIR JOHN THURSBY: Jinaid Khan, Farhad Islam, Tanbir Rahman, Aqueeb Irfan, Hanzalam Khan, Nabashar Hussain, Essa Riaz, Rab Nanaz.