HOW THE 1969 GILLETTE CUP WAS WON

OLD FATHER TIME
By Richard Watts
February 13 2007

With the 2007 season fast approaching we thought it would be good to look back at Yorkshire's previous triumphs. In the third of a series of articles we reflect on the 1969 season. A year where Yorkshire lifted the Gillette Cup and Barrie Leadbeater was man of the match in the final.

Yorkshire’s 1969 campaign started at Lakenham as they visited Minor county Norfolk. Richard Jefferson won the toss and put Yorkshire in and a shock looked on the cards as Yorkshire collapsed from 144 for 3 to 167 all out. John Hampshire with 55 was the only batsman to cope with fast medium bowler Tracey Moore who took 6 for 48. Fortunately Yorkshire’s bowlers had too much for Norfolk who were bowled out for 78. Chris Old was top wicket taker with 3-14 but the outstanding bowling came from the slow left arm of Don Wilson 12-9-4-1. John Hampshire was Man of the Match.

Roses victories are always sweet and this second round tie at Old Trafford was no exception. Lancashire won the toss and batted but could only muster 173 for 8. Richard Hutton (12-4-13-2) suffocated the Lancashire batsmen while at the other end Wilson was again tight (12-2-32-3). A first wicket stand of 137 between Boycott (58) and Sharpe (68) set Yorkshire on their way to a comfortable seven wicket victory, all three wickets falling to Peter Lever. Man of the Match was Phil Sharpe.

The Quarter-Final was against Surrey at the Oval. Brian Close won the toss and batted and was soon making his way to the crease as Jim Cumbes sent back Phil Sharpe for a duck. Close and Boycott then put on a terrific 159, both narrowly missing out on three figures, Boycott falling to Gibson for 92 and Close to Intikhab Alam for 96. The innings then fell away, only Chris Old’s 22 offering resistance as Yorkshire were bowled out in the last over for 272. Great bowling from Nicholson and Old reduced Surrey to 26 for 3. There was no way back for them after that poor start as Don Wilson rapped up the tail taking 4-31 as Surrey were dismissed for 134. Brian Close took the Man of the Match award.

Yorkshire played host to Nottinghamshire in the Semi-Final at Scarborough. Gary Sobers sent Yorkshire into bat and they were soon in trouble with Boycott and Leadbeater both dismissed by Barry Stead with only 3 on the board. Phil Sharpe (67) and Doug Padgett (46) repaired the damage with a stand of 104. Stand in captain Jimmy Binks weighed in with 22 but Yorkshire’s 191 looked a below par score. Once again Yorkshire’s bowlers delivered, Chris Old taking the vital wicket of Sobers for 20 in a spell of 3-32. The medium pacer Peter Stringer finished off the innings with 3-4 as Notts were bowled out for 123. Man of the Match was Phil Sharpe.

Derbyshire were awaiting Yorkshire in the Lords Final. Geoff Boycott was missing from the Yorkshire side having had his hand broken in the previous game. Barrie Leadbeater opened and this match was to be his finest moment in Yorkshire colours. Derbyshire won the toss and put Yorkshire in, the ball moved about from the start but with Close and Leadbeater playing well Yorkshire got to 103 for 1 before Ward removed Close (37). He soon sent back Sharpe for 3 but Leadbeater continued on for an excellent 76 before becoming Ward’s third victim. Padgett 30 and Hutton 29 not out were Yorkshire’s only other scores of note as they made 219 for 8 in their 60 overs. With the pitch helping seam bowlers Derbyshire couldn’t handle Yorkshire’s attack when they replied. Nicholson bowled his 12 overs taking 1-14; Close took 3-36 and the ever reliable Wilson 3-38 as Derbyshire were bowled out for 150 in the 55th over. The 26-year-old Leadbeater took the Man of the Match award and Yorkshire once more the glory.

Was anyone there that day?
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