Finchley equal the record with third ES Trophy

Finchley captain Jake Milton held up the richest prize in club cricket and declared: "It doesn't get any better than this."

The 24-year-old became the youngest skipper to lift the prestigious Evening Standard Challenge Trophy in its 13-year history after Finchley's 35-run victory over Hainault & Clayhall in the final of the £13,1000 tournament at Shenley Park.

This was the second time in 24 hours that Milton had collected silverware as Finchley won the Middlesex Federation Cup the previous day.

Former Middlesex and England seam bowler Angus Fraser handed the man of the match award - a bronze statuette plus £500 cheque - to Finchley's Robbie Hodges.

He scored 50 runs, sharing an opening stand of 112 with Peter Sogbodjor, to set up a challenging total of 237 for eight from their 50 overs. Hodges then took three for 36 with his off-breaks as the Essex side were bowled out for 202 despite a stylish 88 not out from 21-year-old Zobie Sharif.

Finchley, champions in 1993 and 2000, equalled Teddington's record of three titles and re-established the Middlesex League's stranglehold on a tournament.

Milton said: "We would love to become the first team to successfully defend it. That will be a great incentive."

Finchley 237-8 (50 overs, P Sogbodjor 62, R Hodges 50, S Selwood 43). Hainault & Clayhall 202 (46.2 overs, Z Sharif 88no; R Hodges 3-36). Finchley won by 35 runs