A scintillating hundred from opener Tim Taylor propelled Trent Bridge Cricket Team to an eight-wicket victory over hosts Cross Arrows at the Nursery Ground at Lord’s.
Chasing a formidable target of 247, Taylor dominated an opening partnership of 111 with Simon Cleaves, and eventually fell for 134 off 119 balls, having hit five sixes and 19 fours.
Matt Croxall saw Trent Bridge home with an unbeaten 39 off 38 balls, finishing the match with a straight six, while Luke Gunn struck two fours and two further sixes in a cameo 22 not out.
The visitors were grateful to seamer Jamie Dickinson for containing Cross Arrows to 246 all out, as his 5-42 ripped through the Cross Arrows middle order, including bowling skipper Reynolds for a sublime 96 off 104 balls, leading a partnership of 141 with Davis (56).
That seventh-wicket stand had appeared to turn the match on its head for Cross Arrows, who were 76-6 at the end of the 17th over before the experienced Davis joined Reynolds at the crease.
On a hot September day, Cross Arrows had found themselves in trouble in the opening stages after winning the toss. Trent Bridge’s adopted Kiwi Brad Moore struck in his second over with the new ball, pinning Hastie in front for a duck.
While the pitch looked a batsman’s paradise, Moore’s away swing challenged the batsmen until Giles hit fellow opening bowler Cleaves for three fours in the 10th over.
That advanced the scoreboard to 40-1 but Ameer Shah struck in his first over, thanks to some sharp work from Croxall who spotted Giles drift from his crease for a stumping.
Moore claimed his second victim with a textbook away-swinger to clip the off-bail of Mannick for 21, and two wickets in two balls from Dickinson left the hosts further in trouble.
Shah took his second scalp seven balls later but Reynolds and Davis saw off the two seamers before beginning their counter-attack.
Reynolds barely played a false shot and showed beautiful timing with drives to both sides of the wicket, while Davis was also able to score at close to a run a ball against the spinners.
After batting for 23 overs, Trent Bridge finally forced an error as Davis miscued a drive off the returning Dickinson to Richard Clulow at mid-off.
Skipper Tom Paterson claiming a wicket caught behind before Dickinson wrapped up the innings, Reynolds missing a wild swipe when in sight of a richly-deserved century and Wheen given out lbw as the 28-year-old Dickinson claimed his second ‘five-fer’ in Trent Bridge colours.
Despite a target run-rate of more than five an over, Taylor and Cleaves were circumspect in the first 10 overs as Cross Arrows opening bowlers Crosse and Dean offered few free runs.
Taylor took two fours off Dean to push Trent Bridge to 23-0 in the 10th over - and a rasping cover drive in the following over showed that the right-handed batsman had begun to find his range.
At the other end Cleaves took 32 balls to get off the mark, hitting Dean over mid-on for four to ironic applause. The pace quickened from there as Cross Arrows turned to their change bowlers, with Trent Bridge reaching 52-0 in the 14th over.
Cleaves had contributed five to the partnership at that point but did hit four further boundaries before he began to flag in the heat. The right-hander was lbw to Davis for 29 after missing a sweep in the 26th over.
Taylor reached his 50 off 65 balls and with Croxall swiftly into his stride, the run-rate soared. Taylor, by now imperious, needed only 31 further deliveries to reach his hundred, but fell four short of his Trent Bridge best as he holed out with 33 needed for victory.
There was time for Gunn to hit the two biggest sixes of the match over the hospitality tents and Croxall’s straight hit completed the victory with 30 balls to spare.
The Man of the Match award was shared between Taylor and Dickinson as the celebrations began - an unforgettable occasion for Trent Bridge on its 20th anniversary.