PARKLANDS finally shook off their title of Halton Bayer League's nearly men by defeating Runcorn side Raow to win the Hyde Cup.
This follows a succession of hard-luck stories in the mid-week competition for the Widnes outfit, who had been unsuccessful in nine previous appearances in league finals.
Batting first on a very damp wicket, the Parklands opening pair of Negi and Murphy set about the Raow's bowling attack from the off.
The runs came thick and fast, with Negi leading the chase as 50 were scored off the first five overs.
It looked as though these two batsmen had the measure of anything the bowlers could send down.
At one point, a record score in the final was on the cards. With the score on 89 in the 11th over, however, Simon Janion came into the attack for Steve Sheakey.
Within a couple of balls, he had Murphy playing too early and the batsman was caught for 34 off a thick outside edge having spooned a catch to Ted Williams in the gully.
Josh Birch, Negi's Wavertree team-mate in Saturday cricket, came in at three to help push the score along at a rapid pace.
Both batsmen found all parts of the ground and never looked in any danger.
After the allotted 20 overs, Parklands amassed an impressive total 176-1 - Negi carrying his bat for 83no and Birch finishing unbeaten on 36.
Raow knew if they were to get anywhere close to the total, they had to bat sensibly and follow the example of the Parklands' batsmen.
Lintill and Ted Williams came to the crease on a mission, but with some tight bowling for the Parklands openers, runs were hard to come by.
Williams Snr was the first to go, caught by the quick reactions of Howard at extra cover for 17.
Kudrycz, at three, helped Lintill push the score along but Lintill (18) fell in Murphy's final over to a catch by wicketkeeper Clemence.
Iain Williams - Ted's son - came in, but before too long Kudrycz lost his off stump to Dave Whitfield for 11.
Captain Ste Bebbington came in at five to help Williams Jnr to push the ball around.
But Raow were always behind the asking rate and at the end of their allotted overs, had scored 135-3 - a valiant effort.
As the umpires called time, the Parklands players cheered with delight and mobbed captain Mark Holland.
Widnes Rugby Union Club president George Street, former player in the midweek league and Hyde Cup-winning captain, presented awards to the umpires and runners up and the Hyde Cup to the winners.
Don Flanagan, man-of-the-match adjudicator, chose Negi for the prize.
