With a number of players pulling out for various reasons in the days leading up to the challenge - and despite frantic phone calls to ensure the side didn’t follow others and forfeit against a powerful Parkes outfit - nine players, mainly juniors and local B Grade players, made the journey to challenge for the 100-year-old cup.

After winning the toss and batting first, in testing conditions, Young was quickly reduced to three for 18 as they attempted to bat on a pitch well suited to the Parkes bowling line up.

Skipper Duncan Cameron dug deep, while batting with top scorer for the inning Hayden Furner (20), to see off the new ball bowlers who were bowling as if they had the ball on a string.

However when he was out just before the drinks break, it sparked a collapse that the Young side could not recover from.

Matthew Broderick made it to double figures before he departed, and before Jacob Dodge had his innings off to a fantastic start with the only six of the Young innings from his first ball faced before finishing on 11 not out.

Phil Dunford (2 for 6), Brent Tucker 1/12 (10), Sam Carty 1/12 (5), Blake Smith 1/22 (6) and Anthony Heraghty 2/22 (5) all took wickets as they were brought into the attack as Young were bowled out for just 75.

In their last Grinstead Cup defence, it was the top order from Parkes who did the damage as they posted over 340, with their two openers Luke Clarke and Andrew Jones both bringing up big centuries.

And so when Young had both back in the pavilion, reducing Parkes to two for nine early in the run chase, the inexperienced and under-manned side were in with a slight chance.

Written off by everyone heading into the challenge Young’s chances of pulling off an upset were boosted again when they picked up the wicket of