MOST people in the ground at Sowerby St Peters thought that Thornton had left their assault too late.

Even many of the Thornton team thought that they had left it too late, including eventual man-of-the-match Nikki Hutchinson, in trying to overhaul Booth’s 231-8 in the ENCO Halifax League’s Briggs Priestley Parish Cup final.

The innings were remarkably similar in that both sides lost two quick wickets and were then revived by a brotherly third-wicket stand.

In Booth’s case it was the Laycocks, with wicket-keeper Robert scoring 60 and skipper Richard 88 in a partnership of 149.

In Thornton’s case it was step-brothers Josh (68) and Nikki (107), who put on 89.

Nikki was happy to play second fiddle, pushing for ones with the field deep set, but once Josh was out, caught after a fumble at mid-wicket by Hasnain Wajid, many thought that the game was up in what was a repeat of the 2019 final, won convincingly by Thornton.

Josh had pretty much scored two-thirds of the runs in that partnership, and only 14 runs came off the six overs following his dismissal, with 37 balls being delivered before Thornton got another boundary, and that was four byes.

However, the next-but-one ball was hit for four by Nikki Hutchinson, although the next four did not come until the first ball of the 35th over, with 99 wanted off the final 10 overs.

What changed the equation, however, was the 39th over, bowled by Nigel Horsfall, which went for 25 runs, with Nikki Hutchinson planting two deliveries behind square leg for sixes, while one went to cow corner for another maximum.

There was still work to do, of course, but those six balls gave Thornton belief, even though Ross Parr was out the following over for 36, slicing to deep cover.

Hutchinson reached his ton with a pushed single into the covers, becoming only the second man to score a hundred in a Parish Cup final.

Another 14 runs came off the 43rd over but Hutchinson was out in the next, caught at long off the ball after hitting Thomas back over his head for six.

Seven runs were still needed off eight balls when he was dismissed as Halifax League officials broke into a cold sweat over the possibility of a tie with the wickets lost being equal, which would have necessitated a replay next Sunday.

Indeed it did end in a tie as Bradley Weatherhead was caught off the last ball but Thornton won because they had only lost six wickets to Booth’s eight.

Booth’s decision to bat caused a few raised eyebrows given the rain that had fallen during the week, but Nikki Hutchinson admitted: “We would have batted if we had won the toss.

“It was difficult early on, very difficult, and we both lost two early wickets, but we were quite glad that we didn’t let them get away, although we thought that 230 was a little above par.

“But I had a good stand with Josh - I like batting with Josh and we bat well together and it means that I can push for singles while he is in.

“And then I put 96 on with Ross. Even so I did think that we had left it too late but things changed in that over when I hit three sixes.

“I don’t think that the batsmen out there had a clue about us winning on a tie with less wickets lost (hence the cry of ‘two runs from two balls’), but it was two great teams against each other and it was a great advert for the Halifax League.”

The Laycocks favoured the sweep in keeping the scoreboard moving, but Thornton’s outfielding never wavered, and they took six good catches, none better than the grab in the gully by Ross Soames to dismiss opener Hashim Wajid.

As for the Halifax League’s management board, they have already received a rule change proposal for next season’s Parish Cup, bringing in a super over if the teams are tied on runs.