After Duncan Bladon (14) and Phil Howitt (12) had given Hebden a respectable start, the crucial partnership saw Simon Cartlidge joined by captain Jeff Anderson, and both played aggressive innings in adding 65 for the fourth wicket.

Cartlidge once again played with assurance and power, taking 3 sixes in one over from the otherwise impeccable Mike Hancock, whilst Anderson (29) found his feet in hitting a fine six over extra cover to which he added a further 5 boundaries.

When Cartlidge was caught by Hancock for a club-best 43, it was left to firstly Andy Mackintosh, with an assured 21, full of deft off-side shots, and a typically seismic innings from Laurence Massey (27) to boost the Hebden score to a challenging 177 all out. For the Hitters, Hancock took 4-25, Clare 2-21 and captain Rick Allan 2-34.

In reply it was a pumped-up Cartlidge who made the initial breakthroughs, courtesy of a superb caught-and-bowled to dismiss Bowen for 13, and a swirling catch by Anderson to see off Thinn for 15. Massey then bowled captain Allan for 9 to leave the visitors at 40-3.

First change bowler Andy Mackintosh was a revelation for the home side, with Anderson taking his second fine catch to see off Hancock for 6, then dismissing a further two batsman in successive balls.

With fielders around the bat for the hat-trick ball, John Garnett narrowly survived a sharp chance at short mid off. Tony Curtis had also nipped in with his debut wicket for the club, and Howitt trapped danger man Andy Allen lbw for 27.

It was left to Jules Atkinson’s diving catch off his own bowling, and young James Mackintosh’s second ball wicket to polish off the tail, leaving Garnett stranded on 28.

A quite superb display in the field by Hebden with some outstanding catches and a performance in which all bowlers used took wickets, the best figures coming from Andy Mackintosh 3-8, and Cartlidge 2-29.

Hebden Bridge 177 all out (31.3 overs)

P Howitt c R Allan b Clare 12

D Bladon b Hancock 14

S Cartlidge c Hancock b Clare 43

J Allison c Garnett b R Allan 1

J Anderson c Zanzottera b Thinn 29

A Mackintosh c Lucas b Hancock 21

T Curtis b Hancock 0

J Mackintosh b Hancock 0

L Massey c Garnett b R Allan 27

K Cameron lbw b Kenyon 5

J Atkinson not out 4

Extras 20

Bowling: Clare 7-1-21-2; Kenyon 6-0-36-1; Hancock 7-5-25-4; R Allan 5.3-0-34-2; Thinn 4-0-28-1;

Lucas 2-0-25-0.

Sheffield Hitters 127 all out (22.2 overs)

B Bowen c&b Cartlidge 12

W Thinn c Anderson b Cartlidge 15

M Hancock c Anderson b A Mackintosh 6

R Allan b Massey 9

A Allan lbw b Howitt 27

P Zanzottera lbw b Curtis 1

F Lucas b A Mackintosh 0

J Bee b A Mackintosh 0

J Garnett not out 28

P Kenyon c&b Atkinson 7

R Clare c Cartlidge b J Mackintosh 4

Extras 17

Bowling: Massey 5-1-20-1; Cartlidge 5-0-29-2; A Mackintosh 3-0-8-3; Curtis 3-0-17-1; Howitt 3-0-26-1; Atkinson 3-0-12-1; J Mackintosh 0.2-0-1-1.