The contest – staged at Tynedale’s Priors Flat ground in Hexham – saw Colliers batsman Scott Dunn named as the man of the match award just ahead of his fellow batsman Steve Williams. And it was the opening pair who blazed an opening partnership of 119 to give their side a terrific platform on which to build.

With 94 on the board at the half way stage, the Wansbeck outfit were well placed and they closed on 175-3 from their 20 overs allocation. The aggressive Williams spearheaded the charge with a powerful display smashing nine fours and two sixes in a top scoring 66 which saw him complete his fifty in the ninth over before he was bowled in the 14th.

Dunn, a perfect foil for Williams, carried his bat to finish unbeaten with 65 including five boundaries and one six. The Plain faced a tall order with an asking rate of 8.8 runs per over – yet in the early stages, they achieved it. Williams had made a quick incision but it was the introduction of Dougie Potts which proved to be a significant move as the right arm spinner took two wickets in his first over.

Following the dismissal of Hawdon for 27, the Plain scoring dipped with the Durham outfit 66-4 after ten overs and with Potts senior making further inroads into the tail to finish with figures of 4-16 from five overs, Ashington were rapidly closing in on victory.

In the 19th, young Matthew Potts claimed a wicket with his first delivery then Alex Gates finished off the Plain innings with the final ball of the game.

Afterwards, beaming skipper Martin Thewlis said: “In the end it was a very one sided affair but if anyone had offered me 175 on the board in 20 overs three hours before the game when the butterflies were going, I would have snapped their hands off. I was absolutely delighted with our performance because Annfield Plain are the only side who have defeated us in the league this season so it was nice for us to put one over them.”