Preston look the team to beat in Twenty20
The Preston team celebrates Jonty McDonald's catch to dismiss Andrew Makinson |
Twenty20 Cup holders Preston took a huge step towards hosting Finals Day in the Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup with a 17 runs victory over Leyland at West Cliff.
The winners of South Two group will stage Finals Day on Sunday 25 July and by winning all four of their opening games Preston have proved that they are the team to beat in this competition.
Preston will secure their Finals Day place by winning one of their two remaining matches next week against Darwen (on a date still to be arranged) and Leyland. Darwen are the only team that could thwart them but have to win their last two games and hope Preston lose their last two, in which case the group will be decided on run rate.
On a glorious sunlit evening a large crowd at West Cliff- one of the biggest in recent memory at the historic ground was captivated by another enthralling contest in a cup which has really caught the imagination of players and spectators alike in the last two or three years.
Both sides fielded full first teams in coloured clothing and the game was fiercely fought with no quarter asked or given. It was a superb spectacle.
Preston skipper Bilal Asad top-scored with 31 |
Preston reached 120 for 5 at the end of their 20 overs, relying on professional and captain Bilal Asad's run-a-ball 31 and an unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 39 between David Fisher and Pip McDonald.
Leyland bowled and fielded tightly with Steven Pallett and Stephen Cartwright the pick of their attack.
Preston's Adam Parker is bowled by Tayyab Afsar |
The visitors lost the in-form Luis Reece to a run out by Lukman Vahaluwala and Chris Parkinson to a catch behind off Adam Parker.
Their main hopes then wrested upon professional and T20 captain Brett Pelser but he fell to a superbly judged catch in the deep by Yasin Patel off Parker for 11.
Andrew Makinson hit one huge six into the hockey courts before he was unlucky to pick out Jonty McDonald on a massive hit to leg, McDonald defying the glare of the setting sun to pluck out a match-winning catch.
Leyland's Andrew Makinson hits a huge six onto the hockey court |
Preston spinners David Fisher and Atul Sachdeva bowled economically and Vahaluwala was saved for the end, claiming two for 19 as Leyland finished 17 runs adrift.
Despite their disappointing league form in the first half of the season Preston's side look ideally suited to Twenty20 cricket and they will be many people's favourites to retain their title in this popular competition.
Result:
Preston v Leyland
Preston won by 17 runs
Preston 120 for 5, Leyland 103 for 8
