2nd Metropolitan Cup - Final

After a tie in their last meeting the stage was set for an explosive climax to the Metropolitan cup in Sunday's final between La Dehesa and Las Condes.

Las Condes was hoping to repeat last year victory, but La Dehesa had been unbeaten all season and had other ideas.

Unfortunately for Las Condes, the die was cast in La Dehesa's favour before a ball had been bowled with only 9 players able to play on the day.

But Las Condes captain Marriott won the toss and decided to bat, hoping the old adage of putting some numbers on the board first would work in his favour.

However, La Dehesa's bowlers made life difficult for the Las Condes openers. Wily spinner Adams frustrated Wollocombe into a rash shot in the fifth over that was easily caught by Harvey.

McGovern's fast bowling from the other end kept the batsmen off their guard and he was rewarded for his efforts the next over with the wicket of Hickman who missed a straight delivery.

At 12 for 2 it looked as if lunch would be served sooner than expected, but Paul 'Wonder Boy' Hollis had other ideas and he kept Las Condes' hopes alive with a solid innings of 71 that included several well timed drives for four.

At the other end Las Condes batsmen came and went without ever settling in long enough to provide Hollis with any real support. Walker was out LBW to a quick straight delivery from Khaalid, and Messner was out in the same fashion.

Mouton attempted to hook a short delivery from Dowling and deflected the ball onto his chin. Not to be kept off the pitch, however, Mouton was back after receiving medical attention and scored 13 before being caught & bowled by McGovern.

That left Las Condes capitan Marriott and Dawson to hold up the Las Condes tail, but Dawson was stumped by some quick thinking from La Dehesa keeper Larsson and Marriott was clean bowled by Brink going for a slog.

After lunch, La Dehesa was set the modest target of 153 to win. Messner opened the bowling with a head of steam and quickly earned the wicket of opener Dowling in the second over with a fast delivery that kept low.

But La Dehesa capitan Phillips was solid as a rock expect for several LBW decisions that luckily for La Dehesa went his way. Phillips was well supported by first drop McGovern, who showed once again that he is truly a batsman of class.

Together they put on a slow-scoring partnership of 34, before McGovern was bowled by Mouton on 19 in the 17th over. That brought Khaalid Mooradd to the crease. The South African native needed hardly an over before he had his eye in and started dispatching the Las Condes bowlers all over the ground.

Khaalid has not had much of a chance to show his talent after arriving in Chile late this season, but he certainly made up for lost time on Sunday with a splendid innings of 64 including one glorious six over the bowler's head and almost through the clubhouse windows.

Khaalid was given out LBW to Messner but by then La Dehesa only needed one run to win in the 39th over, and Phillips wasted no time scoring the winning run off Mouton and ending his captain's innings of 59 not out.

When it was all said and done, La Dehesa's strong bowling attack was able to keep Las Condes from putting together a truly competitive total, and with La Dehesa's deep batting line-up, the outcome of the game was never really in doubt.

After team pictures, and a pause to super-glue the bat back on the trophy, Marriott presented Phillips with the Metropolitan Cup, which will remain in his safe hands, until next year at least.

The Metropolitan Cup final caps an extraordinary season for Chilean cricket that included a second place finish in the South American Championships held in Argentina, and a developing youth cricket program.

The 2003-2004 season is sure to showcase the talents of Chile's emerging young cricketers as well as another exciting Metropolitan Cup.

¡Viva Chile!