Out-of-work pair planning to have the final say

Steve Selwood and Zoheb Sharif will be playing for more than just a winner's medal when they contest the final of club cricket's premier knockout tournament this weekend. They are playing for their futures.

Finchley take on Hainault & Clayhall in the 13th final of the Evening Standard Challenge Trophy at Shenley on Sunday.

The winning captain will receive the richest prize in club cricket - a cheque for £6,100.

Finchley, champions in 1993 and 2000, include 24-year-old Derbyshire batsman Selwood while the Hainault line-up features Essex's leg-spinning all-rounder Sharif, 21. Selwood and Sharif both bat left-handed and attended Loughborough University. But they have something else more basic in common this week: both have been released by their counties and are looking for employment.

Sunday's showpiece final, which will be attended by former Middlesex and England bowler Angus Fraser, gives them the perfect platform to put themselves in the shop window with a fine performance.

Selwood did just that as a 20-year-old in the 2000 Challenge Trophy Final when his bold innings of 65 against Uxbridge at The Oval earned him the man-of-the-match award followed by a professional contract with Derbyshire. That Finchley line-up also included 19-year-old wicketkeeper Ben Scott, who is doing very well for Middlesex.

Finchley captain Jake Milton, a friend of Selwood's since their days in the club's Under-11 team, said: "It's good and bad news that Steve is available. He scored half-centuries in the last two rounds and it's great to have him around but he was gutted Derbyshire did not retain him."

While Finchley prepare for their fourth final, it is unknown territory for their opponents, who had never before been beyond the last 16.