By Michael Latham
John Huck was Netherfield's batting hero |
John Huck steered Netherfield through to the final of the Furness Building Society Cup with a superb undefeated innings of 79 in an exciting semi-final at Birch Hall.
Huck showed a maturity beyond his teenage years to underline his rich potential and end Darwen's dreams of cup glory.
Netherfield will now play host to derby rivals Kendal in the final at Parkside Road on Sunday 30 August (1pm).
But Netherfield stalwart Scott Clement also played a major part in the victory, partnering Huck in an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 35 after earlier taking three wickets including the prize scalp of Darwen pro David Wiese.
Clement showed his experience after joining Huck at the crease with Netherfield rocking at 145 for 8 chasing their 177 victory target.
Clement battled through 37 balls for a vital undefeated 14 while Huck ruthlessly picked off the loose ball to settle the game with five balls remaining.
Huck hit eight fours and one six in his match-winning 82-ball innings.
On an overcast afternoon Netherfield captain Chris Parry had no hesitation in inviting Darwen to bat after he won the toss.
But Chris Lowe and Alex Davies gave the home side a solid start with an opening stand of 46 before Davies, the England U15s star, became the first of Clement�s victims.
Lowe batted fluently for 32 before he was caught behind leg-glancing by Huck off off-spinner Chris Miller, who opened the attack and bowled straight through his eight overs.
Clement troubled Wiese several times before bowling the Darwen pro middle and off for 22 and also pinned John Cordingley leg before for a duck.
Scott Clement bowls Darwen pro David Wiese |
But Cris Clarke and Mark Emery dug deep to set Netherfield a competitive target in a fifth wicket stand of 58.
Clarke made 28 before he was caught by Alex Atkinson off Marc Hadwin while Emery struck a fluent 44 off 52 balls, including three sixes before becoming one of Parry's three victims late in the innings.
Clement (3 for 27) and Parry (3 for 25) were Netherfield's most successful bowlers.
Darwen struck two early blows as Craig Walmsley was well caught in the deep by Yakub Bhamji before pro Glen Batticciotto was bowled by Wiese for 16 to leave the visitors 35 for 2.
But teenagers Huck and Atkinson then batted with increasing fluency in a third-wicket stand of 81 in 13 overs that appeared to have taken the game away from Darwen.
Atkinson had made an impressive 46 off 49 balls before he became the first wicket for off-spinner Cris Clarke, superbly caught in the deep by Kamran Anwar.
Clarke settled into a groove and spread panic in the Netherfield ranks in an inspired spell of five for 30 off his eight overs.
Clarke added the wickets of Parry, Ben Haddrick, Oliver Hill and Miller to his tally while Ben Barrow was run out by quick fielding from Cordingley.
Cris Clarke took five wickets for Darwen |
Netherfield lost six wickets for just 29 runs, including four with the score at 136 as Darwen looked in the ascendancy.
But Huck stood firm and together with Clement earned a mouth-watering final date with Kendal in a fortnight�s time after an engrossing game of cricket under leaden skies.
John Huck and Scott Clement return to the pavilion |
Scoreboard:
Division One Cup
Semi-Final
DARWEN v NETHERFIELD
Netherfield won by 2 wickets
Darwen 176 for 8 (40 overs) (Mark Emery 44, Scott Clement 3 for 27, Chris Parry 3 for 25),
Netherfield 180 for 8 (39.1 overs) (John Huck 79no, Alex Atkinson 46, Cris Clarke 5 for 30)
