The National Inter-League Challenge match between the winners of the Club Cricket Conference's Sovereign Cup and the League Cricket Conference's President's Trophy resulted in a narrow win for the Middlesex County League who defeated the North East Premier League by 12 runs. The match, sponsored by Northern Rock and the ECB, was played at Kidderminster CC on a pitch previously used for a match. Despite a very fast outfield runs proved difficult to come by as the NEPL failed to overhaul Middlesex's modest 186 all out.

The opening overs gave little indication of the problems to come as Middlesex, having won the toss, set off at over 8 an over helped by some wayward bowling. Some ambitious shots resulted in early wickets but as Sogbodjor and Milton added 67 for the third wicket a substantial score seemed in prospect. Symington managed to stem the flow of runs, taking 2 for 25 in his 9 overs including Sogbodjor for 50, and the introduction of spin slowed the rate still further. Middlesex lost wickets regularly but seemed determined to attack, the last wicket falling to a catch on the long on boundary with more than 5 of the 45 overs unused.

The Middlesex opening bowlers were much less profligate, Sharpe and Morrick capturing early wickets as the NEPL slipped to 40 for 3 and, following two unnecessary run-outs, 70 for 5 before Howells and Evans started to rebuild the innings. The Middlesex spinners also proved difficult to get away and despite an unbeaten 29 from Brown Morrick claimed a further wicket as NEPL ran out of overs still 12 short of their target.

Tom Graveney, the President of the League Cricket Conference, made the presentations including the Man of the Match award to Wesley Morrick for his 3 for 26.

Result Summary:

Middlesex County League won the toss

Middlesex County League 186 all out (39.4 overs)

P Sogbodjor 50, J Milton 29

North East Premier League 174 for 8 (45 overs)

R Evans 36, M Brown 29*, 9-1-26-3, T Sharpe 9-3-20-1

Middlesex County League won by 12 runs