Bradford & Bingley skipper Phil Slater lifts the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup

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Skipper Phil Slater was a proud man after leading Bradford & Bingley to their first silverware for seven years at Spen Victoria.

His considerable contribution to his side's record-breaking win was deservedly acknowledged with the Man of the Match award.

He hit an unbeaten 88 which helped his side set a new record final score 0f 309-5 since the competition adopted a 50 over format.

Richard McCarthy with the cup

And fittingly it was Slater who took the final wicket with the aid of a catch by veteran Richard McCarthy as Farsley were bowled out for 120 to seal a 189-run win – the biggest ever recorded in the competition’s history which stretches back to 1904.

Slater hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon from the moment he won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry pitch.

Farsley, who were hampered by the absence of Bradford City footballer David Syers and all-rounder Bradley Kruger who was away playing for Holland, didn't help their cause with some wayward bowling.

They were never able to put the Bradford & Bingley batsmen under pressure at any time. The 19 wides they sent down underlined the struggles their bowlers were enduring.

Openers Simon Davies (32) and Scott Etherington (33) got their side off to a sound start with an opening stand of 68.

Davies had looked in good form and it came as something of a surprise when he was bowled by spinner Lorenzo Ingram.

Etherington was next to go at 84 when James Lee trapped him lbw with a ball which appeared to nip back.

His dismissal brought in Slater and the captain settled in quietly. The only anxious moments he experienced came with the running when in partnership with Naweed Ghany.

The Sri Lankan made his skipper have to scamper into his ground on a couple of occasions as he made indecisive calls.

Slater and Ghany added 59 before Ghany was caught on the mid wicket boundary by James Henry as he attempted to hit leg spinner Joe Greaves for six.

Slater was playing sensibly and was then joined in a stand of 56 by Matthew Duce. The wicketkeeper looked to be moving through the gears when he was stumped by Matthew Green off the bowling of Barry Frankland who was pressed into action as the sixth bowler after Robert Thornton had been hit for 58 in five overs.

All-rounder Chris Thompson made 20 in quick time before he was run out after failing to regain his ground when sent back by Slater.

The Bradford & Bingley captain completed his half century off 65 balls with nine fours before before being joined in a late onslaught by James Davies which brought 76 in the last 9.3 overs.

Davies smashed two sixes and four fours as he made an unbeaten 38, while Slater finished up unbeaten on 88 - a mature innings which was punctuated with 11 fours.

Farsley needed a good start if they were to challenge and there was welcome aggression as Steve Simpson hooked Davies for a huge six, but from the final ball of the opening over the bowler got his revenge. Simpson edging a catch to wicketkeeper Duce.

Farsley's plight quickly worsened as Davies struck again to bowl James Lee for one to reduce them to 14-2.

It was then that McCarthy made his mark. The man who recently took his 1,000th Bradford League wicket, had Tom Slater caught at slip by Phil Slater and then bowled dangerman Lorenzo Ingram for one.

Farsley had reached the final with thrilling run chases against Baildon, Hartshead Moor, Undercliffe and Woodlands, but their hopes of another were in ruins at 16-4.

It was a position they never recovered from. Shabbir Rashid (29), Barry Frankland (20) and crowd favourite James Henry (19) struck a few defiant blows before their side were all out for 120.

Leg spinner Ghany picked up 3-44 as Farsley's wickets tumbled but the men who did most to destroy the Farsley innings were McCarthy 3-13 and Davies (2-23).

It was a comprehensive and deserved win for Bradford & Bingley - their first Priestley Cup win for seven years - and the perfect pick-me-up after their three-wicket defeat at Yeadon on Saturday which severely dented their hopes of a league and cup double.