Despite the problems surrounding the 1st Division the 2005 season for the Danish championship turned out to be an exciting affair with a perfect ending in a play-off match. Before the season started there was an expectation that Skanderborg, who have won the championship in the last two years, would yet again dominate the proceedings. But chairman Flemming Joergensen played down any chance due to change of players, though Skanderborg had again the services of coach/player Clinton Birkenshaw. Former champions Svanholm were expected to be a competitor together with Glostrup, but it all depended on the quality of the professional coach/player both teams had imported from Australia. Svanholm ended up with Darren Treumer who turned out to be a good wicketkeeper but failed with the bat on several occasions, while David Sheppard was a good bowler for Glostrup.

While KB got the services of the resurrected Ole Mortensen as player/coach, Skanderborg and Svanholm met for the first time early in the season, where Skanderborg took the honours thanks to a batting display from Lars Hedegaard and Soren Kirk. Glostrup, however, couldn’t fulfil their expectations failing miserably with the bat. Norrebro, the Pakistan club, however, won matches, which is quite a feat when one takes into consideration that the team cannot practise very often, as they don’t have facilities at their ground. Being a council matter Norrebro’s ground has become a controversy, as they were given a new place to play, a place only meant for cricket. The council however didn’t consult the association in building it and the end result is that the ground is unplayable. Even so, Danish international Aftab Ahmed with an injured leg still managed to score 163 as an opener, an unusual place for him. Skanderborg were unbeaten until they played Glostrup in Copenhagen on a day where everything went right for the Copenhagen team and Skanderborg were off colour. Skanderborg lost and the Championship was open again until the day after, when Glostrup continued their good form and defeated Svanholm with constant pressure bowling, especially from David Sheppard, restricting them to 109. Skanderborg on the other hand on the same day defeated Norrebro by 9 wickets, where Michael Pedersen shone with 74 not out.

After the summer recess Skanderborg, leading the table by one match, met Glostrup for the second time. In a low scoring match Skanderborg looked the likely winner after removing Glostrup for 96, but Glostrup’s excellent bowling attack had the leaders struggling at 92 for 9. But Clinton Birkenshaw held the innings together and scored the winning runs. Norrebro’s good start to the season was now replaced by a slump. In the following week Svanholm gained revenge for their earlier defeat to Glostrup by beating them by 145 runs. The Jutland team Esbjerg were becoming contenders for a top place after beating KB and the other Pakistani side Ishoj, who hadn’t won a match.

Towards the end of the season Svanholm survived a hiccup against Husum, the north German side, while Skanderborg defeated Esbjerg and so everything could happen on the last day of the season. Skanderborg had two matches: on the Saturday they played Svanholm, while on Sunday they had a rearranged fixture against Husum. Svanholm could only force a playoff by defeating Skanderborg, while Skanderborg could win the Championship with a victory. Despite hostile bowling from Skanderborg Svanholm managed to post a fair total of 170. Skanderborg were soon in trouble with six down with only 51 on the board, but Morten Hedegaard and Clinton Birkenshaw got Skanderborg back in the match. A great catch from Bobby Chawla removed Morten and Clinton ran out of partners giving Svanholm victory by 36 runs. Meanwhile Esbjerg surprised everybody, securing the bronze medals after defeating Husum. Skanderborg won their match against Husum without a hitch.

Skanderborg and Svanholm ended the season neck and neck and for the second time in history there was a play-off match for the Championship. Playing on neutral ground, Svanholm batted first and thanks to a good innings from captain Soren Vestergaard they were all out for 168. Skanderborg, however, got themselves into trouble at 48 for 4, but Lars Hedegaard and Soren Kirk put on 50 before Soren was run out. Lars’s brother Morten now came in and they carried on until Lars also was run out. Morten survived a dolly catch chance and the road to victory was wide open. Skanderborg champions for the third year running.

Northern Jutland side Aalborg won the first division closely followed by Herning who failed to beat KB in the play-off for a place in the Premier Division, but the difference between the sides in the division has grown immensely. Aalborg, however, had a good season as they pulled off the surprise in qualifying for the Cup Final after beating later Champions Skanderborg in the semi-final, while their opponents Albertslund, also from the first division, had the pleasure of beating Premier opposition in the form of Glostrup. The final in May, played in grim conditions, tuned out to be an exciting affair, where victory was decided on the final ball. Aalborg had made 156 in their 40 overs and they thought they had the match under control as Albertslund were far behind on the scoring rate, but a swashbuckling innings from Asif Amjad put them back in the match. However, loss of wickets meant that Umair Butt came in with one ball remaining and 2 runs to win. Peter Thorup bowled the last ball which Umair missed and victory was Aalborg’s.

So there were exciting matches in 2005 but the problems in the 1st Division and the big difference between the top and bottom of 1st division with the lack of promotion from below must ring the alarm bells for the future of competitive cricket in Denmark.