Kendal on verge of Twenty/20 glory
Skipper Chris Miller led from the front for Kendal |
Kendal Cricket Club are one match away from appearing live on Sky TV in the Finals Day of the Barbados Cockspur Cup ECB t20 competition.
Chris Miller's side, winners of the league's Jamie Heywood Twenty20 Cup produced a magnificent display to beat both New Brighton and hosts Middleton in the Regional Semi-Final.
Kendal will now host Hyde CC on Sunday 28 August at Shap Road with the winners of that game qualifying for the Twenty20 Finals day on Monday 19 September 2011 to be held at Chelmsford, the County ground of Essex CCC.
In the first game of the day New Brighton defeated Middleton by four wickets after overhauling the home side's 113.
Kendal were then restricted to 91/7 off their 20 overs against New Brighton. Terry Hunte top-scored with 31 and Jon Miles hit 26.
New Brighton looked odds-on favourites to qualify but Kendal bowled and fielded magnificently to dismiss the Liverpool Competition side for 88 in the last over and secure victory by three runs.
Skipper Chris Miller, fresh from bowling his side to victory over defending league champions Leyland took 3/11 and Jack White 3/12.
Jack White was one of Kendal's bowling heroes |
All now rested upon the final game of the day with Kendal facing a quick turnaround against Middleton.
After setting off well, reaching 33/1 after four overs Kendal made 111/9 with Gary Baker making 23, Nick Lewthwaite 20 and Miles 18.
Gary Baker made valuable runs for Kendal |
Again Kendal thrilled their large contingent of travelling supporters, with a superb display of out cricket to successfully defend their modest total.
Miller led from the front with a match-winning spell of four for 8 and White collected four for 20 as Middleton subsided to 70 all out.
Exciting win for Darwen lifts them to sixth
In league action Darwen moved up to sixth place in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) after defeating Lancashire Colts in a high-scoring game at Birch Hall.
Pro Mohammad Zaman Khan made a welcome return to form, hitting a magnificent undefeated 136 in Darwen's 244 - 4 declared after 49 overs. Khan faced 145 balls and hit 12 fours and three sixes, sharing a second wicket stand of 160 with Alex Davies whose 67 came off 107 balls and included eight fours and one six.
Ammer Mirza (79) and Sam Holden (51) shared a third wicket stand of 99 for the Colts as they reached 140 - 2 in reply.
But teenager Kamran Anwar and pro Khan then combined to bowl Darwen to victory.
Anwar, who had taken two early wickets returned to the attack to capture 6-51 with Khan taking 4-65.
Kamran Anwar bowled Darwen to victory over the Colts |
The Colts subsided, losing six wickets for 27 before Michael Burns provided late resistance with an undefeated 27. Khan snapped up the winning catch to dismiss skipper Chris Benbow off Anwar with ten balls remaining.
League
Division One
Darwen v Lancashire Colts
Darwen (15pts) defeated Colts (3pts) by 29 runs
Darwen 244 - 4dec (MZ Khan 136no, A Davies 67), Lancashire Colts 215 (A Mirza 79, S Holden 51, K Anwar 6/51, MZ Khan 4/65)
Barbados Cockspur Cup ECB t20 Regional (at Middleton CC)
Kendal v New Brighton
Kendal won by 3 runs
Kendal 91 - 7, New Brighton 88
Kendal v Middleton
Kendal won by 41 runs
Kendal 111/9, Middleton 70 (C Miller 4/8, J White 4/20)
Kendal qualify
