Denholme retained the Les Ben-son Trophy after an exciting finals day at Windhill CC.

To reach the decider, the West Division champions first overcame Jer Lane, who were struggling after Andy Hodgson took three early wickets in his four overs.

This left the Central Division runners up on 35 for four off eight overs but Jason Slator (20) and Paul Ellis (24) staged a recovery until they fell victim to Steve Welch off successive balls.

A total of 110 for nine off 18 overs was always going to prove difficult to defend and Denholme openers Mark Beckett (45) and Gareth Marhshall (41 not out) laid the platform to secure a nine-wicket win with more than two overs to go.

In the other semi-final, Keigh-ley Euro Windows won the toss and batted first against Central Division champions Lightcliffe Motors.

The fielding side were to rue some missed run-out chances as Shahid Nadeem (51 not out) helped his team to 65 for two off the first eight overs.

The bowling side then managed to tighten things up, but 48 runs in the last six overs left Windows with a healthy 144 for six, with skipper Steve Elliot taking an amazing five catches in the outfield.

Paul Bottomley stated his intentions with a six and a four in the second over, and his half- century, with support from Jason Smith (30) and Paul Ash-croft (28), put their team in with a shout, but 17 off the last over proved too much and set up a final between the teams from the West Division.

Winning the toss again, Win-dows lost Gharib Nawaz first ball and were struggling at 49 for six off nine overs.

However, a half-century partnership for the seventh wicket helped them to a very respect-able 120 for nine off 18 overs.

In reply, Denholme also suffered an early blow as Beckett was caught and bowled without troubling the scorer.

When divisional winner Mar-shall perished in the third over, bowled off an inside edge, Win-dows were in the driving seat with Denholme 17 for two.

However, Hodgson proved his all-round ability as he joined Welch at the wicket.

They took the score to 66 for two off eight overs and, when Hodgson retired after making a match-winning half-century, his side were in a healthy position at 101 for two.

Welch (47 not out) was deser-vedly there at the end as his side recorded a splendid eight- wicket win with plenty of overs to spare, leaving Denholme to claim the trophy for the second year running.

The league want to thank all the players and umpires who contributed to three excellent games of cricket and also to

the staff of Windhill Cricket Club who worked extremely hard to ensure the day was a great success.