Teacher celebrates another cricket final century

A secondary school teacher who never quite made it in cricket's top-flight has scored a century at Lord's for the second year running.

Richard Kaufman tallied up 122 for Foxton Granta in Sunday's Voneus Village Cup final, defeating Cheshire side Stayley.

The 44-year-old, who said he "always wanted to be a professional cricketer", made a ton in the same match last year.

Speaking after the trophy lift, Kaufman, who is head of cricket at the Leys School in Cambridge, said: "Batting at Lord's is actually much easier because the wicket is so good."

Foxton Granta are only the fifth side in history to retain the title, after Troon (Cornwall), St Fagans near Cardiff, Caldy (Merseyside) and Woodhouse Grange (North Yorkshire).

Kaufman, who spent 17 seasons playing minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire, is the only man in the history of the competition to score more than one century at Lord's.

He hit 110 in last year's final.

"I joined Foxton Granta with this competition in mind after finishing playing minor counties cricket," he explained.

"I always wanted to be a professional cricketer but I started scoring a lot of runs when I was a little bit too old.

"It's always a little bit disappointing that I didn't make it."

Playing at Lord's is easier, he added, saying: "It was harder in some earlier rounds because sometimes the wickets weren't very good".

Kaufman, who made his England over-40s debut last year, was joined on the pitch by Foxton Granta's youngest player, 17-year-old Alfie Piper.

Speaking before the game, the all-rounder, who is in his first season with the club, said: "It's pretty cool going to Lord's.

"I'm playing at a slightly higher level than I had been until recently with my dad, which was ten leagues below."

It was the first time the 12th man, who made his Lord's debut fielding in the second innings, had played on a stadium pitch: "It's so exciting. It's like something you see on TV.

"The main thing is just being at Lord's. But a win would obviously be a bonus."

Voneus Village Cup Final, Lord's

Foxton Granta 265/4

Stayley 120 all out

Foxton Granta won by 145 runs