University cricketers claim championship crown
Posted on 3 September 2009
To win the league in such style is a great achievement for the University cricket team
Club chairman Dr Jim Brannigan
The team has topped the league by winning 12 out of 15 matches this season. A seven wicket win against North Duffield last weekend confirmed the team’s triumph, putting it out of reach of the other sides even before the final round of fixtures.
This was the University’s first year in the league’s top division after earning promotion in 2008. Both staff and PhD students play in the team which includes representatives from across the University’s academic departments.
Its membership has also reflected the University’s growing international community with South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India and the Netherlands among the countries represented in recent years.
This year’s success owes much to PhD students from Pakistan, including Mumtaz Hussein and Afaq Ahmad whose explosive batting has set several club and league records.
Club chairman Dr Jim Brannigan, a researcher in the York Structural Biology Laboratory, said: “To win the league in such style is a great achievement for the University cricket team, and a proud moment not just for the talented players across campus, but also the back-room team, the groundstaff who provide excellent pitches and all who have played for us in the past."
York’s staff cricket team evolved from an earlier side formed by the Department of Chemistry. Since 1997 it has worked its way through the league’s five divisions culminating in this year’s success. The team is hoping to finish the season in fitting style with a win in their home tie against Bishopthorpe on Saturday.
Notes to editors:
- More information about the HPH York Vale Cricket League can be found at http://www.yorkvalecricket.btik.com/.
- Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/uniofyork. Newsfeeds are available at http://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news-feeds/.
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