Dramatic win for Netherfield
Chris Parry's outstanding captain's innings kept Netherfield's hopes alive of qualifying for T20 finals day after his 55 not out secured a thrilling one wicket derby win over Kendal at Shap Road.
Parry kept his cool to on drive Ross McMillan, the Kendal pro, for two in the gathering gloom to steer his side to victory with three balls to spare.
Kendal fought hard to defend their below par total of 105 for 6 but this defeat could well have cost them any hope of making the big day at Blackpool on Sunday.
Kendal have four points and have finished their league fixtures. Their run rate is 6.31 having scored 488 runs from 77.2 overs.
Netherfield have two points and have scored 393 runs from 59.2 overs, a run rate of 6.62.
Barrow have four points and with 397 runs from 56.3 overs have a run rate of 7.03.
The final group match is at Parkside Road on Friday (6pm) when Netherfield play Barrow. Victory for the visitors will guarantee their final place but a Netherfield win would leave the group to be decided on run rate.
Still suffering a hangover from their Cockspur Cup exit on Sunday Kendal never really got going after winning the toss and electing bat on an overcast evening.
Pro McMillan batted through 14 overs to top score with 35 before he was bowled by Marc Hadwin.
Delight for Marc Hadwin as Donovan Du Plessis is run out |
Ben Simm struck the ball well to add 22 much needed runs late in the innings but Kendal, 55 for 3 at the halfway stage, never escaped from an impressive stranglehold applied by Parry's men.
Ben Simm made valuable runs for Kendal |
Three of the Kendal big guns failed to fire. Skipper Ikram Ullah was bowled by Ryan Wilson for 8, Kevin Howarth run out for 4 and Terry Hunte bowled by Hadwin for 10.
Hadwin was the pick of the Netherfield attack with a spell of 2 for 17 but Scott Clement conceded only 12 runs from his four overs.
In reply Netherfield suffered a double blow in Nick Lewthwaite's second over losing Graeme Baker, caught by McMillan at mid off and in-form pro Callum Ferguson who was adjudged lbw.
Netherfield pro Callum Ferguson is LBW to Nick Lewthwaite |
That brought Parry to the crease and the visiting skipper, ironically out for a golden duck in the T20 against Kendal at Parkside Road last week, immediately looked secure.
But opener Ben Haddrick was superbly stumped by Ullah off Simm to leave Netherfield 46 for 3 in the eighth over.
With McMillan shrewdly held back until later in the innings, Kendal still fancied their chances as they worked their way through the Netherfield batsmen but they could not dislodge Parry.
Ullah made further superb stumpings to dismiss Oliver Hill and Clement, Nathan Chambers was run out and Hadwin caught by Simm at cover off McMillan.
When Matthew Clinton was lbw to McMillan first ball and then Ryan Wilson bowled by Stuart Nelson Netherfield were still eight runs short of victory with their last pair together.
But Stuart Nixon scrambled a single and Parry reached 50 with a four to long leg off Nelson before grabbing the strike for the final over with a single.
After blocking McMillan's first two deliveries Parry on drove the third for the winning runs to decide an outstanding contest that was a credit to both sides.
Played in a superb spirit and full of excitement and some great action this game was a great advertisement for Northern League T20 cricket.
Chris Parry hits the winning runs off Ross McMillan |
