Ashington Cricket Club win Bobby Smithson Cup

The success also meant that Mighty Acorns skipper Sean McCafferty – who had announced that he was relinquishing the captaincy after six and a half seasons – went out on a high.

Ironically the match - which had been a washout on Sunday – commenced under blue skies and sunshine but was reduced to 15 overs per side.

The visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat, made a fast start through Omar Ahmed and Pallav Kumar.

The pair had 26 on the board inside the first three overs before Ashington struck when the former was caught on the boundary by Alex Nice off Charlie Harmison for 17.

In the next over, Jack Jessop took a stupendous catch just inside the boundary to send back Kumar but Rishabh Choubey got City going again until the Mighty Acorns struck a double blow.

In the seventh over, Asif Iqbal was stumped by wicketkeeper Jack McCarthy off Cam Nichols then Choubey lofted the ball straight into McCafferty’s hands at long off.

Skipper Sandeep Padmalaya and Hamza Parvez added 18 but as the visitors tried to up the rate in the closing stages, they lost wickets and eventually finished on 97-8.

When the Wansbeck side replied, Jessop took 13 off the first over but in the third, Nichols looked on in disbelief after he middled a drive straight back to Kumar who held onto a stunning catch off his own bowling.

However, from 23-1, Jessop and Jack McCarthy were ruthless as the pair smashed the ball to all parts of the ground and figured in an unbroken second wicket stand of 77.

Such was their dominance that they took Ashington – the defending holders of the trophy - to victory in a canter only two balls past the half way mark.

Jessop finished with an unbeaten knock of 46 from 24 balls which included seven fours and one six whilst McCarthy’s undefeated 49 came from 22 deliveries with seven boundaries and two sixes.

The cup was presented to skipper Sean McCafferty by Ashington chairman Steve Storey with Jack McCarthy named as the player of the match.

McCafferty said: “It was a great way to go out as skipper but to win the game in the manner in which we did was probably unexpected. However, I think it just shows the talent which we have got in the squad. It’s always nice to win a cup because its validation for how well you have played over the year.

"I’m over the moon for the lads because they have worked really hard all season – but I’m also happy for everyone connected with the club from the chairman Steve Storey all the way down.”

He was then delighted to highlight a stat of startling proportions.

“We set good plans with two under 18 year olds - Charlie Harmison and Alex Nice - opening the bowling for the first team in a cup final. That may be a first in the history of Ashington Cricket Club and I’m sure there will not be many clubs around the North East who will be able to boast about that fact which is a massive plus point.”