Richard Robinson wrote his own fairytale script as he led Keighley to victory over his old club Baildon in yesterday's all-Bradford League Heavy Woollen Cup final at Liversedge.
The inspirational left-handed batsman, who enjoyed a successful 14 seasons at Baildon before returning to his home town club last winter, scored a match-winning 61 not out as Second Division Keighley beat their First Division opponents by six wickets with one over to spare.
Last year Robinson helped Baildon to win the Heavy Woollen Cup for the second time in three years.
Twelve months later he thwarted their efforts to retain the trophy by guiding Keighley to victory.
He completed a memorable day by winning the man of the match award for his fine innings and ten economical overs in which he took one for 23.
"It has been a brilliant day for us," he said, "and we have had fantastic support. It is a great feeling to help Keighley win the Heavy Woollen Cup.
"There is a great spirit at the club and many willing workers.
"Yet, a couple of years ago the club were going down the pan. They had a meeting and nearly folded, but they pulled themselves together and they have done a great job."
Robinson came to the wicket with the match evenly poised as Keighley chased Baildon's 212 for six.
They had made a steady if somewhat slow start and at 73 for three still needed 141 to win in a little under 25 overs when Robinson joined overseas player Joel Crouch.
The stage was perfectly set for Robinson and he and the Australian put on 70 in 12 overs for the fourth wicket before Crouch was out in the 38th over having made an entertaining 53, which contained one six and eight fours.
At that stage Keighley still needed 71 to win in 12 overs, but Robinson and new partner Steven Reape guided them home in a perfectly-paced fifth wicket stand.
Unusually, the free-scoring Robinson hit only five boundaries, but their running between the wickets was so good that they had no difficulty in maintaining the required run rate and they were helped by some slack Baildon fielding as the First Division side cracked under the pressure.
Skipper John Goldthorp juggled his six-man bowling attack, but to no avail and they missed slow left arm bowling Mushtaq Ahmed, who has had to return to Pakistan because of a family bereavement.
Baildon's start was similar to Keighley's - they were 68 for two at the halfway mark with openers Simon Davies and Goldthorp the batsmen out.
However, Paul Spragg, who Robinson confirmed will be joining Keighley next season, raised the tempo.
He scored a superb 96, including one six and 11 fours before he was caught on the point boundary by Mark Beckett at 177 just when Baildon were hoping he could bat through the innings.
They managed to reach 212, but events proved that this was some 20 or so runs short of a winning total.
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