Pirates won their second Toyota Disability Premier League (DPL) title after a knock of 59 from Jamie Goodwin, and a crucial unbeaten 24 from Anthony Clapham, helped them chase down a target of 142 against Hawks at Cardiff.

Runners-up in last year’s competition after losing to Tridents in a bowl-out at Loughborough, Pirates have reached the DPL final every year since the tournament’s inception in 2022, winning the title just once before when they defeated Tridents in the 2024 final.

For the Hawks, this was a second final appearance after they beat Pirates to win the title in 2023 and they would have been confident going into this year’s final, having made it there unbeaten and having turned Pirates over twice already this season from as many matches.

The game, which was broadcast live on Sky Sports, also came with a fun subplot, as the McKenzie brothers, Gregor and Monty, were lining up on opposing sides. Older brother Gregor captained the Hawks, while the younger sibling Monty was part of the XI for the Pirates.

Callum Flynn, Alex Hammond and George Greenway were all unavailable for the Hawks while Pirates were basically at full strength minus Jack Perry.

Batting first after being inserted, Hawks posted 141-5 in their 20 overs. The Pirates’ bowling got off to the perfect start when Michael Weathersby struck second ball, clean bowling Gregor McKenzie, one of the tournament’s form players having hit 167 not out against Tridents back in July.

With McKenzie gone early, fellow opener Ronnie Jackson anchored the innings, making 78 from 60 balls before he was run-out in the 19th over. Apart from Jackson, the rest of the Hawks batters struggled with only three others making double figures; 18 from Stephen George being the next top score.

The Pirates’ bowling was tight, Weathersby returning a miserly 1-16 from his four overs while there was a wicket apiece for Dan Hamm, Chris Edwards and Luke Riley.

The chase was by no means going to be an easy one for Pirates, who had been kept to 115-9 by Hawks the last time the sides met on September 6. Goodwin took it upon himself to get his side off to a positive start and put on a quickfire opening stand of 59 with Joe Moss (15) inside the first seven overs.

After Moss’ departure, dismissed by Jake Vosloo, new batter Brendon Parr was run-out from the very next ball and Hawks were very much back in it. They then took the big wicket of Goodwin, the opener falling to McKenzie for 59 from 30 balls (10 fours, one six) with the score on 84.

Weathersby (5) then went four runs later to leave Pirates 88-4 at the halfway stage with 54 still required. Monty McKenzie (15) then combined with Clapham to put on a stand of 30, before the former was trapped lbw by James Nordin with the score on 118.

Clapham dug in, finishing 24 not out from 25 balls, supported by Edwards (6) and then Tayler Young (7 not out) as the Pirates got across the line with seven balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

Vosloo was the pick of the Hawks bowling, finishing with 2-9 from his four overs, as Nordin, McKenzie and Tom Meskell each took one.

Several of the players on show at Cardiff featured for England in their Mixed Disability series win over India earlier in the summer and will already be casting an eye forward to 2027 when they host Australia in the first-ever Mixed Disability Ashes series.

Exact dates and venues are yet to be confirmed, but the sides will meet in a T20I series, meaning that three England teams, the men’s, women’s and Mixed Disability will be competing in Ashes series next summer.

The ECB's head of disability cricket, Ian Martin, said: "It really signals the next step of Mixed Disability Cricket to be able to introduce an Ashes, it's a hugely meaningful progression for the game.

"All cricket fans understand the importance of an Ashes series. England v Australia is for so many the peak of the game and I'm delighted that our Men's Mixed Disability squad will get a chance to compete in such a series.

“We're keen to continue growing this format. I'm delighted we'll be able to welcome Australia to the UK next summer and I can't wait for our first Mixed Disability Ashes series."