Warwickshire win the last Benson and Hedges Cup

Warwickshire have won the final Benson and Hedges Cup, beating Essex by five wickets at Lord's on 22 June.

The young batsman Ian Bell was named man of the match after scoring an unbeaten 65, guiding his side to their target of 182 with plenty of overs to spare.

A comfortable win

Essex batted first and were restricted to 181 for eight in their 50 overs, with Warwickshire's bowlers keeping a tight grip throughout. Runs were hard to come by, and the Essex batsmen were unable to build the big partnerships they needed.

In reply, Bell held the innings together with a calm, mature knock. The 20-year-old, who has been tipped as a future England player, finished the job with a string of well-timed shots, and Warwickshire reached their target in the 37th over.

The end of an era

This was the last Benson and Hedges Cup final. The competition, which began in 1972, is being scrapped because of the government's ban on tobacco sponsorship in sport.

For three decades, the final at Lord's was one of the highlights of the English cricket season, and Warwickshire's victory means they will be the last name on the trophy.

The competition will be replaced next season by a new Twenty20 Cup, with games of 20 overs a side. The new format is designed to attract younger audiences and families, with matches played in the evenings and lasting around three hours.

Warwickshire's one-day pedigree

Warwickshire have a strong record in one-day cricket. They won the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1994, as part of a remarkable season in which they also won the County Championship and the Sunday League, and they have won several other one-day trophies over the years.

The current side, captained by Michael Powell and featuring experienced players such as Nick Knight and Dougie Brown, has been building steadily, and this win will give them confidence for the rest of the season.

A rising star

Bell's performance will have been noted by the England selectors. He made his debut for Warwickshire as a teenager and has already played for England at under-19 level. Many good judges believe he could go on to play Test cricket for many years.

His sound technique and calm temperament were both on display at Lord's.

Celebrations

Warwickshire supporters who made the trip to London enjoyed a memorable day, and the players celebrated with the trophy in front of the pavilion.

The county will now turn its attention to the rest of the season, including the County Championship and the other one-day competitions.

For many cricket fans, the end of the Benson and Hedges Cup is a sad moment, but Warwickshire will always be able to say they won the last one.