Pudsey Congs win thrilling Bradford League Twenty20 final

They helped their side win the JCT600 Bradford League's Dyson Insulations Twenty20 Cup for the first time when they beat brave Morley Phoenix by just nine runs in the final at Bradford & Bingley.

But Roberts allowed former captain Andy Bairstow to collect the trophy from sponsor Ian Morrall in a tribute to his contribution to the club.

An unbeaten 54 from Butt enabled Congs to recover from a poor start to post a total of 163-5.

Morley were in the hunt as long as their overseas player Kashif Naveed was at the wicket. He made 66 off 45 balls but after he departed Morley lost wickets chasing quick runs and were dismissed for 154.

However, the Division Two side could feel proud of their performance in their first final under the Wagon Lane lights as once again the competition was treated to a thrilling finale.

Roberts took 2-11 and was well supported by Nick Lindley (3-21) and Edward Walmsley (2-22).

Young paceman Matthew Dowse made an important early breakthrough when Congs batted first. He had the in-form Lindley caught by Richard Winn to reduce them to 4-1.

Nathan Bromby, who had one season with the Pudsey club in 2007, produced a good new-ball spell of 4-1-18-1.

His wicket was that of Gareth Phillips, who was trapped lbw for 18 to reduce Congs to 27-2.

Bairstow and Eugene Burzler knew they had to stabilise the innings after the loss of Lindley and Phillips, who had shared a first-wicket stand of 150 in last Tuesday's semi-final against East Bierley.

They brought up the 50 in the ninth over when Dave Nebard joined overseas player Kashif Naveed in an all-spin attack.

They took their stand to 52 before the experienced Winn struck in his second over. He had Bairstow caught by wicketkeeper Luke Heinemann for 24.

Morley's bowlers were doing an excellent job, just as they had in the semi-final win over Woodlands, and with eight overs of their innings remaining, Congs were 80-3.

One run later and Morley struck another big blow. Burzler, who had made, 28 was caught by Adam Larkin from the bowling of Nebard.

With their four top batsmen back in the pavilion, Congs desperately needed their veteran batsman Butt to deliver if they were to post a challenging total.

The 100 finally came up off 89 balls when Walmsley got off the mark with a boundary from the bowling of James McNichol.

Butt and Walmsley moved the score onto 123 before the latter was run out to reduce Congs to 123-5.

Butt and Roberts knew they had to boost the scoring rate in the closing five overs.

Butt was the main aggressor and the the 150 came up from the final ball of the 19th over. Butt completed his 50 off 34 balls with his seventh four. His innings also included two sixes.

Congs took 13 runs from the final over of their innings which was bowled by off-spinner Nebard.

Butt finished on 54 not out and his partnership with Roberts was worth 40. The captain's contribution was just three.

Morley's bowlers stuck to their task well but they may well have been disappointed not to restrict Congs to a smaller score after reducing them to 81-4.

Roberts opened the bowling with his left-arm spin as Morley chased 164 to become the first Division Two side to win the Dyson Insulations Twenty20 Cup.

Six runs came from the opening over as openers Gary Wainwright and McNichol looked to give their side a good start against the new ball.

Richie Lamb shared the attack and Morley gathered five runs from his opening six deliveries.

Roberts was determined to keep things tight with the fielding restrictions in place, and just four runs from his second over meant the required rate had climbed to almost nine an over.

Morley lost their first wicket on 19 when Lamb trapped promising left-hander McNichol lbw for seven.

His dismissal brought in the Morley dangerman Naveed. He has a fine record in this competition and another big innings would prove very timely.

Roberts removed himself from the attack and gave young off-spinner Walmsley an early bowl. His opening over yielded eight runs.

With Morley 34-1, leg-spinner Mushy Shah joined Walmsley to form an all-spin attack. Shah, who took three wickets in the semi-final win over East Bierley, needed to settle on to a line quickly.

Wainwright and Naveed brought up the 50 off 47 balls as Morley began to increase their scoring rate.

Congs needed to check the progress of the second-wicket pair and, with the score on 61, Walmsley trapped Wainwright lbw for 13.

Naveed was looking a big threat as he moved into the 30s, but new batsman Adam Larkin lasted just two balls before being bowled by Walmsley for a duck as Morley slipped to 72-3. The off spinner finished his tidy spell with figures of 2-22.

Skipper Matthew Baxter arrived at the wicket, knowing that his side's hopes rested on his and Naveed's shoulders.

Naveed brought up his 50 off 38 balls with two sixes and five fours as Morley reached 95-3 with seven overs to go. Naveed's sixth four then brought up the 100. It meant 64 were needed from 36 balls.

Naveed moved on to 60 with his seventh four as Morley continued to reduce their target. It was down to 49 from 30 balls as the game entered its decisive phase.

With the total on 120, Morley suffered a body-blow. Naveed was trapped lbw by Lindley for an excellent 66.

Heinemann joined Baxter knowing that there was no time to play himself in with 39 needed from four overs.

Butt was introduced to the attack as the sixth bowler and his first over yielded only six runs. It meant 33 were needed from the last three overs.

Congs were sensing victory when skipper Roberts returned to the attack to bowl his counterpart Baxter for 22.

When Roberts struck again with his next ball to bowl Nebard, the end was in sight for brave Morley.

Heinemann struck two fours as he tried to keep Morley in the hunt. He had made 13 when he was bowled by Lindley.

The wickets continued to tumble as 144-7 became 144-8 with Bromby being caught and bowled by Lindley first ball.

Morley need 19 from the last over and they suffered another setback when young George Robson was run out.

Winn hammered a big six to give Morley's supporters something to cheer, and a single left Morley wanting ten from two balls.

But the game ended with Roberts bowling Matthew Dowse for a golden duck. Morley were all out for 154 and had lost by only nine runs.