Ben Trevor-Jones skippers Papplewick and Linby to thrilling 10-run victory

The Bathurst cricket talent now lives in England and this season captained his Papplewick and Linby side.

They've endured a mixed run in the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board premier league season, currently sitting fifth, but Trevor-Jones' side went undefeated through the 16-team knockout cup competition.

It was Cuckney Cricket Club who Papplewick and Linby beat in the decider, successfully defending their 147 run total.

But Trevor-Jones, who had made 25 off 55 batting at number four, said there were some tense moments before he pulled off the run-out in the 39^th over to clinch the trophy.

"I was increasingly nervous but we kept taking wickets just at the right time, when I felt the game was slipping, we'd take a wicket," he said.

"So I always felt like we were a massive chance of winning in that second innings, particularly after taking a few early wickets, I always felt like we had a great energy throughout the game.

"I was very happy with the run-out. You don't get many opportunities to win a final with a run-out, so when the ball came to me and I got that opportunity, I was stoked to get the direct hit.

"I've played in a few finals now so I was ready for the opportunity, that's really what you play for, so when the ball just lobbed past the bowler - I was on the move because the ball was in the air - I picked it up cleanly and yeah, hit the stumps.

"It was great scenes at the end."

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That he was captain made the moment even sweeter for Trevor-Jones, the role one which he was unexpectedly handed early in the season.

He is already planning about what he hopes to do with the playing group next season.

"I was somewhat thrust into the captaincy after four games this season when our previous captain left, so it's not something I was expecting to do but I've really enjoyed it and I've made a lot of friends," he said.

"It's a great group and I've really enjoyed the challenge of it and it's great to have the cup final win under our belts now and we can take that into next season.

"Hopefully we can repeat our cup form and find a way to be more competitive in the league. It's definitely a goal of ours next season to finish in the top three in the league and hopefully win the league in the next couple of years."

He will also no doubt be hoping his next season has less hurdles that what he faced this time around. As England deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, games were rescheduled, cancelled and abandoned, while Trevor-Jones himself was sidelined at times.

"I personally had COVID two weeks ago and missed a couple of games because of that and had another scenario earlier in the season where my housemate had COVID as well and I had to isolate for 10 days because I was in the house with him," he said.

"I'm grateful to have been able to play as much cricket as what I have this season because obviously I'm looking at back in Sydney and in Bathurst now and it's obvious they're going to be quite limited this season."

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