RANK outsiders Moorside Cricket Club sprang a surprise by winning the Pennine League’s Tom Hardman T20 Cup.
Moorside were the only Championship club to reach finals day at Norden where they were up against Premiership opposition.
But thanks to the explosive batting of Namibian professional Gerri Snyman, Moorside triumphed.
Player and former captain Danny Anchor was elated as Moorside’s senior side won its first piece of silverware for 14 years.
He admitted: “We were massive underdogs, and nobody at our club even thought we had a chance.
“We were expected to turn up and be home for 4pm. We thought let’s go and have some fun, and we did precisely that and our pro was unbelievable.”
In the semi final Snyman, who played for Namibia in the 2003 World Cup, hit 91 off 46 balls as Moorside beat Rochdale by seven wickets.
And there was another superb knock in the final as he hit 81no from 47 balls in an eight-wicket win against Littleborough.
Anchor said: “When we reached the Saddleworth League’s T20 final Gerry played against us for Heyside and hit 176no to win the game for them.
“It was nice this time he was on our side rather than against us.”
Anchor described it as being a “great season” to win a trophy, but they they want to finish the Championship campaign on a high.
They are fourth in the table with runners-up spot attainable as Middleton are the runaway leaders.
Anchor said: “Middleton are by far the best team in the league, but it is very tight for the next three places.
“We have been third for most of the season, but currently are fourth. Everybody wants the runners-up spot, though we can’t win promotion as the league is folding.
“It is a shame we cannot play in the Premiership as that is something we had been striving to achieve since the Pennine League was formed.”
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